May 17 - 2007 - National Day - Norway

Anna at work on the National Day

Teachers can choose if they want to follow their classes in the Childrens Parade. In Oslo, this means you have to be at the respective schools at 8 am. And the schools going as the last ones in the parade are finnished around 1 pm. It's a hard "work" marching for so long. But it's also a great and proud tradition. Anna choosed to follow her school this year. This is the story of her day. Photos taken by papa. Except one. Guess which?

6:00 AM: Alarm Bell
6:05 AM: Anna went up to the Kitchen. Coffee time. And "feed the Cats" time.
6:16 AM: Papa goes to the rest room. Shaving and showering. Always shaves before shower. Take no chances to have the mirror full of Dew. Not on May 17. The National Day or Constitutional Day of Norway.
6:36 AM: Anna comes to the Restroom telling the weather forecast is better than reported last evening. More Sun and milder in the Oslo Area. No coats needed.
6:55 AM: Five flags were placed inn the flower box. Sun was shining from a 100% blue sky. But chilly; less than 10 Centidegrees (50 F).
7:05 AM: Finished dressing and flags and cameras and papas corset (he needs it when his Lumbago is at its worst) were brought down to the car.

7:06 AM: Anna comes down to the car and we were on the road to Oslo and Anna’s School. It is 50 km (about 33 miles). No other cars on the road. Empty highway – what a funny experience. A normal working day, this trip will take 2 hours +, starting this late in the morning.
7:45 AM: Arriving at school. Some children are already present. It’s a very special day for kids, the May 17: So much ice cream and hot dogs they can eat. And all carefully and nicely dressed up. At Anna’s school there is children from 37 different nations. Enlarge and try figure out the flags and the nations.
Everybody says: Gratulerer med dagen (Congratulations with the Day) to each other. Even the former headmaster was present, and the present of course. All the Flag-bearers were called upon to fetch their flags. May 17 is the Day where everybody living in Norway feels they are Norwegians.
8:00 AM: Time to hoist the Flag to the tones of the National Hymn
8:05 AM: Papa drives to the Winter home and parks the Car. Made some blog comments (Too few actually – sorry for the lack of time).
9:25 AM: Papa goes to the Bus station – The Lumbago is very annoying and painful. Had to stand up in the bus.
9:45 AM: Takes the train to downtown Oslo. Lots of people with national dresses and flags.
10:01 AM: Arriving the National Theatre station. Went straight to the Royal Castle waiting for the Royal Family and the Parade to start. Some veteran planes flew over the Royal Castle.
Then the Royal family comes out, greeting there folks. The sky was blue and the trees were green and the people waived their flags. Then the National hymn. People singing. Kids had gas balloons. Now and then, balloons were lost and flew up in the sky, while kids were crying for a new one.

The parade consist of well over 100 schools and 30.000 children, Brass bands Even the brass band recruits are marching.and Flag-bearers. First goes the Mayor of Oslo and the Local Government.

Then comes the schools. Those who goes first have jubileums. Anna’s school went as number 6. The school is 125 years old. Among the oldest still existing.

There she comes, Anna (in red) and her school. I followed as good as I could among the crowd. Got another few pictures from another place.
Then it was to crowded to follow. Papa went down to the Harbour, were the parade ends and parents can pick up their promising kids. But one father did not show up. And Anna had to bring that young boy back to school. We missed 90 minutes due to that fact. Papa bought a Hot Dog and went around and took some more pictures.As you can see, lots of people all over, watching the Children Parade. Click to enlarge and see more details.
2:10 PM: Back in Summerhome. Champagne and shrimps on the Platform. The Sun was baking and the temperature went up to 20 C (70F). Flowers were set out, even the Tomatoes and the Basil. Cats were well fed. And we too.
To read more about our National Day, please visit my blog friend RennyBA. He had his American MIL with him to the Parade. Like RennyBA, I will also dedicate this post to Mrs Lifecruisers Cybercruise, where you can read about other celebrations and fascinating places all over the world.

To day the schools are free. So Am I. That’s why I could go to our Winter home and post this today. Have a wonderful weekend.
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PS. More Photos here: http://www.fotothing.com/taaboe/