Events related to the Constitution have a central place in Norwegian identity. Today, May 17, Norway celebrates Constitution Day. Iti s the day of the constitution of the state of Norway, when it became a free and sovereign stat. Norwegians as well as people with Norwegian roots living abroad, friends of Norway, also celebrate this date.
Norway’s Constitution Day celebrations are a real party that starts with a traditional breakfast with family, neighbours and friends, followed by parades/shows, music, folk costumes, laughter, joy, youth, lots of hot dogs and ice cream all over the country. They vary from place to place, but usually the highlight is the children’s parade, made up of school grades marching through local communities, led by the school band.
Most of the children have small Norwegian flags that they wave with, and the route is accompanied by enthusiastic onlookers. After the procession, games, parties and films and other cultural content are shown. In Oslo, the capital, the parade is greeted by the royal family waving from the balcony of the Royal Palace.
For this occasion, it is popular to wear the folk costume – Bunad. There are different forms of Bunadas for men and women from different parts of the country, and it is a magnificent sight to see so many national costumes in one place. The others, who do not wear costumes, wear their best spring clothes, formal suits and dresses, with Norwegian flags pinned to their lapels. Flags are displayed on every terrace of the apartment and in front of the houses. All of the above makes the celebration of May 17th in Norway very interesting for travelers.
After 400 years of Danish rule, the Norwegian Parliament passed the Declaration of Independence on May 17th, 1814, in Eidsvoll, it was unanimously adopted, and the first Norwegian Constitution was signed. After that, the celebrations of this day began as important milestones, and a few years later, May 17th was declared the National Day of Norway.
Norwegians found inspiration for the Constitution in the American Declaration of Independence of 1776 and the French Revolution of 1789, as well as in their own constitutions. Unlike those constitutions, the Norwegian have kept the monarchy. Three branches of government were introduced, the Storting, the Norwegian parliament with legislative, supervisory and budgetary powers, the king exercised executive power and the judiciary, the Supreme Court and lower courts and the Court of Impeachment. One of the distinctive features of the Constitution is the recognition of fundamental human rights, among which the right to freedom of speech and religion, the right to vote, protection of property, etc. The Constitution prohibits the retroactivity of laws. It was the most modern in Europe at the time.
The Kingdom of Norway is the country that most supported the development of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the post-war period. From the first investments in the reconstruction of the war-torn country and the building of civil society, to the latest capital investments in sustainable development and green energy. It is a proven partner and friend of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also of the countries of the region. Through the SMART Balkan project, it invests funds in the development and security of six Western Balkan countries, with an emphasis on the stronger influence of civil society in the areas of security and stability and governance.
At Norway’s ceremony on the occasion of this important date, the CPCD is represented by Aida Daguda, director and Dajana Cvjetković, SMART Balkan project manager.
