Glomfjord – 17. Mai 2026
17 May is Norway’s Constitution Day and national holiday.
Anyone expecting a military parade, long speeches, or anything similar would be completely mistaken.
For a long time, I had been curious about how Norwegians celebrate their national day. Before my trip, my Norwegian friends told me that I absolutely had to bring “something really beautiful” to wear. That immediately made me even more excited and curious. So my black suit and a white blouse went into my suitcase — along with a great deal of anticipation.
On the evening of 16 May, there was already a little pre-celebration. This is not necessarily a tradition, it just happened naturally. While I was out shopping, you could already feel the excitement for the big day everywhere.
On the morning of 17 May, we first went to church. Several children’s choirs were singing there — not during a traditional church service, but rather as part of a joyful gathering.
What impressed me most was the festive clothing: women wearing traditional bunads, men in elegant suits, and of course the children all dressed up as well. Even the smallest babies in strollers looked perfectly dressed for the occasion. At that moment, I finally understood why I had been told to bring “something really beautiful” to wear.
Everyone held a small Norwegian flag in their hands, and smiling faces were everywhere.
After church, the parade through the town began. At the front drove a large yellow fire truck playing Norwegian music through its loudspeakers. People standing along the streets waved their flags, smiled, and happily greeted the parade. The atmosphere felt incredibly warm and relaxed at the same time.
One moment touched me especially deeply: the parade stopped in front of a retirement home, and suddenly everything became quiet. The fire truck started playing “Ja, vi elsker dette landet…” (“Yes, we love this country…”). The residents standing at the windows and on the balconies waved back with their small flags. It was such a warm and human moment. I found it beautiful that even those who could no longer participate themselves were still included in the celebration this way.
At some point, it started to rain. But anyone expecting people to run away or immediately open umbrellas would again be mistaken. Everyone simply kept walking — cheerful, laughing, and completely unfazed by the weather. Only the strollers were covered a little more carefully. It was exactly this relaxed attitude that made the day even more special for me.
The parade ended at the school. A brass band was playing, there was coffee, ice cream, and many happy conversations. More and more people arrived, and suddenly the whole place was full of life. The parking lot was completely packed, and everywhere people were standing together, laughing, and enjoying the holiday.
Since I had been invited to friends later that afternoon, I eventually made my way back home. My suit was hung up to dry, and the second version of the “super beautiful” outfit came into use: black trousers and another white blouse. My Norwegian 17 May pin found a new place on the blouse. Afterwards, we drove to Halsa.
There, a wonderful meal was waiting for me: turkey with potatoes, red cabbage, gravy, and salad.
For dessert, we had the typically Norwegian rice cream served with red sauce and strawberries..
It was absolutely delicious. We sat together for hours, told stories, played games, and hardly noticed how quickly time passed.
At the end of the day, one feeling remained above all else: gratitude. Gratitude for having experienced this special celebration, for the warmth and kindness of the people, and for all the little moments that made this 17 May unforgettable.
Maybe I will experience many more Norwegian National Days in the future. Who knows? But I am certain that I will remember this first one for a very long time.