May 17th or syttende mai is the reddest day in Norway. Our flags of red, white and blue are seen in every corner of the town..
This year we went home to my birth town to celebrate the day with my mother. There are at least three parades in every little town, often four. The one you won't miss is the school parade. Even the King and Queen of Norway are saluting the children from the balcony on the Royal Castle in Oslo.No military power, not a single gun is displayed, just happy singing children, some teachers and lots of brass bands.
Most of the women and some men are dressed in bunads. Handmade in every little detail and equipped with pure silver jewelry.My mother has personally made her, mine and two of Serina's bunads.(One for children, another for her confirmation.)
Our National anthem, our King Song and our four National hymns all celebrate God as our creator.It has always been a tradition to go to church after the school parade. Just this year a minority group had forced through a confession neutral celebration. I so missed the children in church.
The American Miss Apron is resting in my lap.
Happy Ruby Tuesday and a heartfelt celebration of spring to all of you.
Originated by MaryT, check hers for today
35 comments:
Dear Felisol:
I am so happy to be the first to comment on this Syttende Mai celebration! It could be my mother, waving her flag and dressing in the attire for the day!! This just warmed my heart. Next to the USA... I LOVE that Norwegian flag!!
Love,
Sonja
Beautiful march, nice color of flag too.
I wish I could visit Norway one day.
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What a wonderful holiday celebration. Is that the same one where the children all wear traditional costumes? I remember seeing photos of my friend's children all dressed up each year.
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Four parades in one town? Wonderful civic pride. It's so good to be proud of your country! And Norway is definitely a country to be proud of!
The bunads are delightful. Thank you for sharing your wonderful celebration.
"Just this year a minority group had forced through a confession neutral celebration." - hmmm.
Felisol, I loved this post of yours. Syttende Mai celebrations are such fun. I loved every single photo you posted. Your bunads are simply beautiful. I love all the red in Norway and how the children are so proud to march in the parade.
I'm so glad to see that you and Sonja of bits and pieces are blog friends too. She has been such a treasure to me (like you are).
I am so thankful for my Norwegian heritage! My dad called to tell me that he spent this past weekend celebrating Syttende Mai with his Sons of Norway lodge. I guess they delayed the celebration by one week but had a regatta and all kinds of fun contests outside. Of course, the parade was a highlight.
One day I hope to celebrate Syttende Mai in Norway. L-Jay of My Little Norway posted a video on her blog of the parades in Tromso. It was fun to see the parades in the video.
Sending you much love,
Debbie
Lovely, colorful post. I'm sorry the children were not in church...
Love the photo of the women's colours on parade! A beautiful moment! And your Mum looks delightful in her long cloak! A fascinating series of photos!
dear felisol...it is so nice to see our idaho visitor on your lap!
felisol, when i look at your beautiful red, white and blue flag, it brings back memories when the queen was our head and OUR flag was red, white and blue.
it was indeed a sad day for me when in february 1965, all of us school children were brought outside to see the union jack flag, lowered for the last time and the red and white maple leaf flag raised.
although i am used to it now, i really did love that red white a blue union jack!
times change though and there is really nothing we can do about it.
15 years old i was..way too young hearted to understand the whole thing!
felsiol..tomorrow it is mary t's birthday!!
and it will be bernie's birhday too!
you know dearest friend that i so loved your apron posts over at the sisterhood of the traveling scarf, but really must say that i am glad you are back in our neck of the woods where you are just as close as this key board....love terry
Happy Ruby Tuesday. Love these imagesx lynda
four parades - such a festive time! No wonder the Norwegian flag has red in it - it's the most festive color :)
Happy Tuesday,
Tink *~*~*
Even in a small town, parades are so attractive to us - most especially the flags of our countries. The flag of Norway is a rich ruby with a cross appropriate to the Christian nation is was when formed - and for you, still!
Tour mother in costume is lovely!
what a fascinating parade. NOrway looks like an amazing place to visit. great shots and Happy RT!
Lovely choices for Ruby Tuesday!
What a celebration. Love watching or be in a parade. It's fun and there is always a meaning to it. Happy RT!
RRT~Slides
beautiful photos of people carrying flags. it's really nice to know about other people's customs.
Oh it really looks like a wonderful celebration. I love the traditional costumes. Too bad about the children not being able to participate...
ear my house, there must be a Norwayan family. They always flew the flag. I was curious and I google search to find that it was a Norway flag.
Hello Felisol! These photos make me "homesick" for Norway!!(Sonja and I and family will go there as you may know, this summer for my daughter's wedding in our mother's hometown of Tromso) On one trip to Norway aboard ship with my parents while in college, I can still see my mother singing the anthem proudly as we sailed into our first port. (Trondheim I think?) Aaaaah, Norway, my second home. You are special to Sonja and I, our Norwegian friend! I love your honesty in your comments and wish you God's best Felisol!!!
Your friend,
Carol Joy
Looks like a happy celebration!
Good to see some more of the celebration and all you loved ones.
Norway has been blessed by God and this is a good way to thank Him for his goodness.
The bunads are works of art.
Your cape is fabulous Felisol
lovely.
thank you for sharing.
Hello Felisol! I hope this Ruby Tuesday fines you well and happy. Again, you have given us great pictures and a little history. I have learned more of Norway from you than any other time of my schooling. Your are very special. After reading all the comments, you have so many friends in blog world, and I get to know you through your words and your friends words. Take care my distant cousin.
Hi Felisol,
This is a wonderful post.
Your photos are vivid; the one of Gunnar and your mother powerful.
And, again, you reveal things about your homeland I never knew before.
This post is a winner all round.
JOhn
I love the beautiful embroidery everywhere ... hapy Syttende Mai celebration.
My Ruby Redness
Beautiful...and I must thank you for posting this history ...and culture....excellent.
My Ruby Tuesday. I do hope to see you drop by for a visit with me today.
It has been a while since I visited and so much to catch up on! The photos in this post are just beautiful Felisol, particularly the parade and the wonderful clothing so lovingly and proudly worn.
What a beautiful celebration, felisol! The colors and wonderful costumes are gorgeous! Happy Syttende Mai and happy Ruby Tuesday! :)
thats pretty interesting :) they all look really neat in that parade! thanks for sharing!
u may view mine here
Hi...next time you walking ladies come to London..bring your walking sticks and come and visit me..l would love to meet you allxxlynda
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It is so good to see a Country still rich in tradition! Love the colors and your Mother's handiwork of your bunads. Can't forget the flag and the parades...I love your Norway.
Such a lovely day.
Hugs,
trish
Hello my dear friend. It was wonderful to hear from you. I love the photos from this May 17 celebration!
We are well. Thanks for the comments on the bead blog. I haven't beaded for a couple of months, but I have orders, so I must do them!
Joey is well. He is living in Abilene, Texas, and will begin training to go to Afghanistan in November. He will deploy in the spring.
Love to all your family!
I love the tradition of the holiday celebration.
The bright flags are so festive in the parade.
A minority group? someone trying to break with tradition?
I just love the creative way you do your posts. THe pictures are always so awe inspiring, Felisol, and the words that go with it... everything blends in beautifully in your blog entries.
Your country is rich in culture, and I can understand that you are all very proud of your rich historical and cultural heritage.
Love
Lidj
I enjoyed reading this post here as well as what you wrote over at the Scarf Sister's blog. What a beautiful picture of your flag waving hello in the breeze.
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