May 18, 2006
Norway celebrates National Day
Sure it’s not Sweden but it’s our neighbour. From Gulf News:
Hundreds of members of the Norwegian community in Dubai celebrated their annual National Day.
Over 300 expatriate Norwegians proudly bearing their national flag convened at the Norwegian Seamen’s Centre in Oud Metha yesterday.
Celebrations began with a reenactment of the traditional schoolchildren’s procession followed by traditional songs performed by children, the symbols of a peaceful tomorrow, from the Norwegian School and an address by Hugo Fjeld, Consul of Norway.
“May 17 marks Norway’s most significant celebration, especially for children, as they are the ones who will inherit our constitution and will maintain the peace,” said Fjeld.
The date marks the day in 1814 when the constitution was adopted, peacefully bringing about an end to the union with Denmark.
Only little problem for them was that after the union with Denmark ended in 1814, Sweden annexed Norway and it was not until 1905 that Norway got their full independence.