On 17 May, Norwegians celebrate the signing of the constitution in 1814. The first National day public address was held in 1833 by Norwegian poet Henrik Wergeland and ever since then, 17 May has been celebrated as Norway’s national day.
Per tradition, on this day Norwegians first gather for a 17 May breakfast, which is often a potluck shared with friends and neighbors, with freshly baked bread, scrambled eggs, smoked salmon, and celebratory champagne. During the day, there are parades all over the country. In the capital, Oslo, the parade is greeted by the royal family, who wave tirelessly to the crowds from the balcony of the Royal Palace. The day is also an opportunity to show off one’s bunad, Norway’s traditional costume worn by both men and women.
At the National day ceremony, Center for Civil Society Promotion (CPCD) was represented by our Director Aida Daguda and our Project Manager Dajana Cvjetković.
Today we say:
Dear friends in Norway, gratulerer med dagen!
