Ordinary Norway: Culture: May 17 holiday celebration 2011

May 17 is Norwegian´s Independence Day. All day is parades, food, music, etc. On the islands the schools have parades along the area with the kids dressing up, playing drums, singing etc. with games and activities afterwards for families.

Here in Bergen, similar, but also larger parades, and such, food stands, music, more drum corps also with kids. The larger parades go through the city on the main roads, which are closed for the day for traffic, which is rerouted elsewhere. All the closed roads are then made into walking only areas for the parades.

Here is a video link to May 17, 2010 in Oslo showing parades there. Another video on May 17 explanation about May17, parades, and Russ.

In 2011, we spent May 17th in Bergen sentrum, getting up about 6am as usual, taking a taxi into town, being dropped off here, right outside one of the main parade routes. We walked into town, and it was early, so not too many yet.

The first photo show Russ. Russ is the red outfits the teenagers are wearing, as they´ve graduated high school or are just about to. It´s a bit like US university rush, with games and stunts they complete to win patches etc. Russ is both a noun, what they wear, and a verb, what they do. Russ is their last year before uni:). That´s Russ, loosely explained. These guys are wearing their Russ, as many others were also, to let others know they´re Russ:).

Norwegian flags flying variously around city.

Huge high kept balloons, for sale. Lots of this all over city, to celebrate.

Flowers in bloom everywhere, with newly planted smaller flags. People, kids, adults carry flags too. And noise makers, balloons, etc.

A few of the decorated food stalls. Empanadas, hot dogs, toys, games, flags, sugarspin (cotton candy/candy floss), waffles, pancakes, and lots of other fun foods and things for sale, to help celebrate.

Bunads worn by most or many people. Bunads are the traditional clothing once worn by Norwegians, now worn on special occasions such as holidays, weddings, Christenings, May 17, Christmas type occasions. They´re made from wool, either black, white, cream, navy, or mixed colors, with many intricate handmade designs, intricate silver jewelry etc. VERY expensive, to buy, most are handed down. There are also official courses one may take in order to learn how to make authentic ones. There are numerous authentic designs, depending on the region and area. I´ve photographed a few that we saw this May 17th. On another post, I´ve shown the bunad I´d like to make for me, as I´, not from here, but would like one.

Notice the traditional shoes, apron decorations, socks, sock decorations, silver accents of buttons, knives, ribbons and such, even on the Men´s and boys, girls and women´s clothing. So very pretty. And I think the Men´s outfits are very striking too.

Some photos of the harbour fjord and boats. Many boated in, and celebrated on their boats after or before the parades:).

Above, a drum corps of young boys, with wooden replica guns and actual drums they play along their parade walk. Below, a memorial wreath and ribbon to commemorate those who died. Spring flowers in bloom.

We took the floibanen up Mt Fløyen, early before the crowds, before there were any lines, to see the city from above. Spectacular views, even with the rain clouds. It didn´t rain much luckily, just a bit cloudy, and wasn´t too cold either!:)

Not sure you can tell, but the parades and crowds below are forming. As we were heading down Mt Fløyen, there were many hundreds of people waiting in lines to go up the mountain in the floibanen! They must have waited for several hours! In BOTH directions! That is why we went early:). By the time we got back down to the sentrum, the parades were starting, with music, balloons, the drum bands etc.

The other reason we went up, was to have a treat at the restaurant up on the mountain, which is not always open. See some of the selections of food, desserts below.

We got a mix of numerous desserts and shared a bit of each, switching plates after a few bites:). It was fun, trying many ones, as it was difficult to choose just one. I wasn´t sure what some would be, but they were all so pretty, and tasted even better than they looked. We got coffee, drinks etc too.