Photo: Kasper Landmark.Photo: Kasper Landmark

Celebration of Norway’s National Day

Last updated: 18/05/2011 // The 17th of May is the Norwegian National Day and an important celebration for Norwegians around the world. The Royal Norwegian Embassy in Kathmandu marked the day with a traditional Norwegian celebration in the morning and a reception in the evening.

The National Day, also known as the Constitution Day, is a celebration of the Norwegian constitution that was signed at 17th of May 1814. At the time, it was considered one of the most radical and democratic constitutions, and it is today the oldest single-document constitution in Europe still in continuous force.  

 

In Kathmandu, a traditional celebration took place with flags, games, music and off course a children’s parade. It was the writer Henrik Wergeland who initiated the first ever children’s parade in the mid-nineteenth century and since then it has been the most symbolic event of the day. This year, the neighborhood in Bainsepati got a rare view of a parade of more than 50 Norwegians with flags and national costumes parading and singing behind a Nepali wedding band playing Norwegian music.

 

The reception at the Norwegian Ambassador’s residence in the evening gathered a variety of people. Representatives from the diplomatic community and NGO/ INGO’s came together with politicians, government officials, poets and artist to celebrate the day with Norwegian citizens residing in Nepal.

 

 

Photo: Kasper Landmark.Photo: Kasper Landmark

 

Photo: Kasper Landmark.Photo: Kasper Landmark

 


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