17. mai 2008

17th of May 1814 Norway got its own Constitution, and this date is passionately celebrated throughout Norway. People put on their fines garments (national costume, if you have one) and walk in parades through the streets, with bands playing and people waving their flags shouting "hurray hurray, hipp hipp hurray!".

There are different parades different times of the day. In Bergen the first is at 0700AM, and at this time cannon shots are heard all over Bergen. More cannon shots for the 11AM "procession parade". This year I walked in the procession representing the University of Bergen. All kinds of organizations are represented, including the local sports club (the pro soccer players of Brann are always popular to watch), the Bergen belly dancing club and the like, and even Bergen Scottish society who were playing bagpipes, and an Northern Irish flute corps p(l)aying tribute to Norway. There are also the war veterans, police, veteran firefighters/trucks, and I especially like the people who ride bikes and wear clothes from the twenties shouting Hurray! (some of them shouted convincingly enough to make it seem Norway had just won its independence!). There were bands playing on the back of trucks which were very energetic and lively. Next year maybe I can capture more on film. Here's what I filmed while in the parade that I enjoyed in company with our neighbors Øystein, Eline and their son Magnus. Bergen's 17th of May is famous for its "bow corps" - corps with drummers and carriers of bows - which you will see.