Syttende Mai in Norway
Celebrating the 17th of May the Stavanger way
Photo: Lars Idar Waage
It’s a day of parades in Stavanger to celebrate Norwegian Constitution Day on May 17 each year.
Lori Ann Reinhall
Editor-in-chief
The Norwegian American
Cynthia Elyce Rubin
Travel Editor
The Norwegian American
In Norway, everyone is welcome to participate in the celebration of Syttende Mai. It is a day of fun, community, flags, and parades.
It is also a day to celebrate Norway´s cultural diversity, and Norwegians are glad to celebrate with people from all over the world. In the city of Stavanger alone, there are people representing over 170 different nationalities.
If you’ve never celebrated the 17th of May in Norway, it’s good to know that things are done a little bit differently there than here at home in North America.
Following are some practical tips from the 17. mai website for the city of Stavanger. While this advice is specific to that locale, it is much the same in cities all over Norway.
Photo: Lars Idar Waage Marching bands—korps—have always been a big part of Norway’s Syttende Mai celebrations.
Dress code
On the 17th of May, Norwegians dress up in their best clothes. Many wear their national costumes, the bunad. It is common to pin ribbons of red, white, and blue, the colors of the Norwegian flag, on your left chest, close to your heart.
Remember to check the weather report and be prepared to bring along a raincoat, a warm jacket, or an umbrella. The parades always go on, come rain or shine.
Flags
Get hold of a small Norwegian flag that you can keep with you during the day. Norwegians wave the flag and shout HURRA!
Phrase of the day
“Gratulerer med dagen” means literally “Congratulations with the day.” Respond with “Gratulerer med dagen.” Norwegians may greet those they meet with these words and a smile, even if they do not know them.
Public holiday
All shops and public offices are closed on May 17, but many restaurants and bars are open in the city center on this day.
Driving
Try not to use your car in the city center because many streets will be closed off because of the parades. Take the bus, cycle, or walk. Plan your route in advance. Everybody is outside celebrating on this day.
Watching the parades
Find a place along the parade routes. See maps online on the 17. mai website of in the official print program. You may greet people in the parade by shouting HURRA or HIPP, HIPP HURRA! and waving your flag.
Russ
The city center will be full of youth wearing red and blue costumes. These are russ, high school graduates who have been up all night celebrating.
In Stavanger, Domkirkeplassen is the central point for the national day celebrations. There are many organized activities that take place throughout the city during the day on the 17th of May. They include:
- Raising the flag
- Morning music
- Concerts
- Barnetoget—Children’s parade
- Folketoget—People’s parade
- Russetoget—Students’ parade
- Hurraprisen—The Hurrah Prize
Photo: Lars Idar Waage A vintage red fire truck leads the way through the streets of Stavanger to greet the people, all waving their flags in red, white, and blue.
The Stavanger 17th of May committee has established the Hurrah Prize. It is an annual award to an individual, team, or association that has demonstrated outstanding voluntary community service over a long period of time for the good of the community. Emphasis is placed on whether the voluntary effort has children and young people as its target group. The prize amount is NOK 15,000.
Learn more at: stavanger.kommune.no/en/may-17-in-stavanger.
Five facts about Stavanger
- Stavanger is Norway’s fourth largest city with a population of about 146,000. Over 21% of the city’s inhabitants are immigrants.
- The city of Stavanger was officially established in 1125, while archeological finds show evidence of inhabitation going back to 3000 B.C.
- Stavanger Cathedral was built between the years 1100 and 1150. It was damaged by fire in 1272 and rebuilt in Gothic style. Two additions have been added since.
- Stavanger has the largest collection of wooden houses in northern Europe, with an estimate 8,000 timber structures.
- Oil was discovered near Stavanger in 1969, and today the city is Norway’s oil capital, a bustling international hub.
Top 10 travel destinations in Stavanger
- Gamle Stavanger
Stroll through Old Stavanger with it cobblestone streets and quaint wooden houses painted white as you breathe in fresh sea air. - Norwegian Canning Museum
Learn about the history of days gone by and the sardine industry that built Stavanger. - Norwegian Petroleum Museum
Learn about Norway’s modern history and everything that has to do with the oil and gas industries. With its many interactive exhibits, there is a lot to learn and enjoy. - Fargegaten —Øvre Holmegate
Fargegaten—the colorful street—is ideal for shopping, restaurants, and cafés, and for your vacation snapshots! - Stavanger Maritime Museum
The 150-year-old building is home to collections of natural history, church art, and children’s history—perfect for families. - Stavanger Cathedral
With its overall shape of a three-part ship, this is Norway’s best preserved medieval cathedral. (Please note that it is currently under restoration and will be closed until Aug. 25, 2024.) - Museum of Archaeology
Experience 11,000 years of history through artifacts, photographs, and special events. - Swords in Rock
In Hafrsfjorden near Stavanger, the last battle to unify Norway was fought under Harald Hårfagre at the end of the ninth century. This enormous bronze monument commemorates the event and symbolizes peace. - Pulpit Rock
The iconic Pulpit Rock with its square block juts above the Lysefjord about 2,000 feet. Nonetheless, the hike there is not difficult, and you will definitely enjoy the view. - Flor og Fjære
Flor og Fjære is a magical collection of tropical gardens on the island of Sør-Hidle outside of Stavanger. Tours start at the end of May and end in September.
This article originally appeared in the May 2024 issue of The Norwegian American.
