What more fitting day than this to launch a web site with information about travels in Norway and photographs of the country than 17 May?  Not only that, but today is the 200^th anniversary of the signing of the constitution which led, ultimately, to Norway’s peaceful independence from Sweden in 1905.

Norway’s nationalism is of a particularly benign type.  It might be said, uncharitably, that a country with only a little more than 5 million people can offer no physical threat to others, but this would be to ignore the very democratic and fair minded ethos of the people of Norway.  It is this ethos which was so deeply offended by the 22 July 2012 bombing and massacre perpetrated by Anders Behring Breivik.

On 17 May Norwegians hold parades and other celebrations, everyone has the flag flying (not that this is anything unusual!) and the people often dress in their traditional clothing (bunader).

17 May is also a day on which to walk or ski to a mountain peak with like minds.  I wish I were there today!  I haven’t been in Norway for 17 May, so I can’t offer any first hand accounts or photographs, but a quick internet search will give you an idea of the atmosphere.

The Norwegian news media have been and will be full of news about 17 May, especially on this 200^th anniversary, so I’ll just link a couple of pages: this article and this article.  And you can practise your Norsk (or at least look at the pictures) here.

[“Gratulerer med dagen” is a greeting which is used on birthdays too, but on syttende mai it has special significance.] Norsk flagg at Iungsdalshytta in Skarvheimen, February 2008.Raised every morning, lowered every evening, and seen from my room. Oh, some snow and mountains too! The flat area is a frozen lake.