Happy Kids on the Block
The Norwegian Constitution Day, the national day of Norway, is special for the non-military nature of its observance. School children, some of whom carry Norwegian flags, walk through the streets. In Oslo, the capital of Norway, they pass by the residence of the Royal Family. The King of Norway and his family wave to them. The atmosphere is more festive in Bergen. Some rather call it traditional, but the custom of kids leading the way goes back to the 19th century. Norway was a part of Sweden, and it was seen as a protest against foreign rule. But May 17, which is national day, is close to Norway's liberation from Nazi Germany during the final days of World War II.
Norway's strategic location in Northern Europe would influence the chain of events during the Second World War. The Nazis knew it, so they mounted an invasion. King Haakom VII would maintain his kingdom's neutral stance, but he changed his mind after he saw the imminent danger. He wanted to stay by his people, but he was forced to relocate to London. (It happened after Nazi troops arrived in Paris.) In his radio speeches, he encouraged his fellowmen to keep up the fight. Not even Hitler's decision to turn the Norwegian monarchy into a non-political entity discouraged them. The king returned a hero after the war, his heroics prompted many to call him the greatest Norwegian of the 20th century.
But Norway didn't come into her own after the war. It was once part of an old civilization.
When Old Norse ruled the world
If not for Hollywood, then the current generation would know little of the Old Norse tribe. They were descendants of the Indo-European people who first came to Northern Europe. Some might think of the Vikings, a seafaring people who traveled all over the northern parts of the continent and across the Atlantic. They're right, but not quite.
“Beowulf”, one of the most enduring literary works from the Middle Age, referred to a valiant Norse king. Many might think he was a product of imagination after watching the 3D animated biofilm by Robert Zemeckis, but he was real. And Sigmund too. He would be the hero of “Nibelung”, an epic poem that told how he slew a dragon and bathed in (dragon) blood in able to be invisible and claim the throne. There have been many variations of the tale, suggesting a wealth of stories that can rival Greek mythology. H. Rider Haggard knew it, as "Eric Brighteyes" was a tale of sorcery, deceit and intrigue. The titular character was a young fellow in love with the fairest woman, but her father thought he had no prospects. Soap opera, right? JRR Tolkien would disagree, as his Middle Earth reminded readers of the epic scope of the Old Norse poems. The author of "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" was a huge fan of Norse mythology.
But this one's for the children
The military takes part on the seventeenth of May, which is how Norwegians want it during this special occasion. The men in uniform would show their musical prowess, but they won't upstage the children. They're the ones who will lead the crowd.
