Friday, May 18, 2007

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.
(If the commentfield for a reason or another is hidden, you are free to e-mail me)

PS. More Photos here: http://www.fotothing.com/taaboe/

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18 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Gratulerer med dagen!

That is very impressive that your daughter's school was number 6. You must be really proud!

Happy National Day! It is so beautiful there - the air seems so crisp from the pictures. Very nice! :-D

May 18, 2007 6:40 pm  
Blogger OldLady Of The Hills said...

How wonderful TorAa...This is quite a "day" isn't it? And it is wonbderful that so very many people participate in this National Holiday! Lovely pictures....but they wouldsn't get bigger....I clicked on them and they didn't do anything...Boo Hoo! Still, I feel like I was there, too....Thank You for sharing this special Norwegian Day.

May 18, 2007 6:53 pm  
Blogger RennyBA said...

Great post and lovely pics Tor. I can't believe where almost at the same spot in front of the castle! You really have captured the atmosphere real good my friend.
Nice to see Anna too (sorry I didn't saw her in the parade:-(
I've linked your post to mine of course and I think we do a smashing good blog team telling the world about our special National Day - so thanks for plugging me!
Btw: Lime came from yours and says thanks and hello (she had problem getting through with her comments to you!)

May 18, 2007 8:05 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hello Tor
It took me a moment to post my comment because tonight we have problem with internet! Beautiful national day! I would like to be in Oslo yesterday to see the parade with all scholls and children and I'm surprise to see many people with typic clothes! And beautiful weather! Hope I will have the same weather sunday in Cannes! without mistral!

May 18, 2007 10:12 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Gratulerer med dagen!

Wonderful, Mr L and I was just discussing what on earth you use to say to each other on the 17th May. Now we know.

Splendid photos! I've linked you up in my post.

Tell Anna, that she glowed in the mass, very lovely :-)

Love her red coat, it matches the flag very well!

...and take care of that lumbago, so it won't become worse (like mine did!)

May 19, 2007 12:32 am  
Blogger Joy Des Jardins said...

What a wonderful day for all of you....and a terrific parade. You look pretty happy with the champagne and shrimp Tor.

May 19, 2007 1:23 am  
Blogger Suzann said...

Tor - you are very special - loved these pictures and you.

May 19, 2007 3:36 am  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wow, what beautiful photos - thanks for sharing. It was "almost" as good as being there. Happy National Day!

May 19, 2007 3:53 am  
Blogger Shammickite said...

Gratulerer med dagen Tor and Anna!
Thank you for posting those photos.... but they stayed small, I could not make them any bigger to see the details. I hope you enjoyed your shrimps and champage en plein air.
One day I shall visit Oslo and you can be my tour guide!

May 19, 2007 4:36 am  
Blogger A. said...

Lovely post Tor! I'd love to see Norway - maybe one day ...

May 19, 2007 2:29 pm  
Blogger Unknown said...

Tor - those were exciting photos. The one difference I notice for your national day is that everyone dresses up in suits and very nicely...

Well that would never happen in North America!

I'll have to read more but I must say you have a great taste in flowers. We have the same ones but ours are in less bloom still..

May 19, 2007 5:19 pm  
Blogger Puss-in-Boots said...

Oh Tor, it sounded as if you and Anna had a wonderful day with the children. Thank you for the terrific photos.

I hope your lumbago survived the day!.

Have a wonderful week.

May 20, 2007 10:39 am  
Blogger david santos said...

Please, it puts fhoto of Madeleine in your Bloggue

Missing Madeleine!
Madeleine, MeCann was abduted from Praia da Luz, Portugal on 03/03/07.

If you have any information, please contact Crimestoppers on
0800 555 111

Please Help

May 20, 2007 4:36 pm  
Blogger Shionge said...

What a wonderful celebration and such colours & vibrancy...I love it Toraa :D

May 20, 2007 6:41 pm  
Blogger Mother of Invention said...

This is neat that you make a big deal about this and even better that so many children are involved.
Your pics were the next best thing to being there. Thanks.

Did you give your cats flags to wave?!!

May 20, 2007 9:08 pm  
Blogger ShadowFalcon said...

Sounds like a fantastic day! I wish we had some like that over here!

May 21, 2007 11:17 am  
Blogger Ginnie Hart said...

HA! Yes, did your cats wave flags or was this the day they could be out on their own and do whatever they liked! :)

So sorry to hear about your Lumbago isues. UGH. Hope you're feeling much better when you read this!

You and Renny really do make a good blogging team about your country!

May 21, 2007 1:14 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What a great post! I lived in Oslo for a summer with a family when I was 16 (quite a while ago now). The pictures of downtown Oslo brought back many happy memories.

I loved Norway. It is a lovely country full of lovely people! Thank you for sharing National Day with us.

May 22, 2007 6:47 pm  

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