Norway’s Biggest Holiday To Be Celebrated with Old-Fashioned Patriotism and New-Fangled “Cod Toss”
Each year on May 17 in Norway, festive Norwegians fill the streets with cheers and flags in celebration of Norway's constitution, adopted in 1814. The spacious grounds of the Swedish Club in Farmington Hills will look much like the celebrations in Oslo this year as Detroit-area Norwegians and their friends gather to commemorate Norwegian Constitution Day on Saturday, May 14th.
The local festivities will include the traditional children’s parade, Scandinavian music, face painting, and children’s games plus the not-so-traditional “cod toss” in which competitors toss frozen fish for distance.
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Celebrants will also hear an update on Norway from the honorary consul of Norway to the State of Michigan, Dennis Flessland of Huntington Woods. Parade participants will be accompanied by the music of the Scandinavian-American Spelmanslag led by Karin Arneson of Dearborn.
After the parade, grilled hot dogs and soft drinks will be available for purchase. Guests will also enjoy an assortment of Norwegian desserts prepared by members of the host organization, Nordkap Lodge of the Sons of Norway.
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As in Norway, it is popular to wear the colorful national dress, the hand-embroidered bunad, on this occasion, although many will wear simple spring clothes with a Norwegian flag or May 17th ribbon pinned to their lapel.
Inside the clubhouse, the Lodge will sell imported Norwegian products and foods, including cheese, herring, and Norwegian chocolate bars. Families are encouraged to bring their own Norwegian flags as well as noisemakers and lawn chairs.
The family-oriented event is free and open to the public from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Swedish Club at 22398 Ruth Street in Farmington Hills. The parade will start at 11:30 a.m.
The Constitution Day national holiday, called Syttennde Mai (17th of May) in Norway, commemorates the day in 1814 when the new Norwegian Constitution was signed. The constitution established Norway as a sovereign state and constitutional monarchy ruled by the principles of liberty and democracy. It was the most liberal constitution in Europe at that time, clearly inspired by the ideals of the revolutionary American and French constitutions. When a subsequent union with Sweden was dissolved in 1905, the constitution became the foundation of modern Norway which today has one of the highest standards of living in the world.
Membership in the Sons of Norway is open to all who are interested in the preservation of Norwegian culture and heritage. For more information, call 248-224-3369 or 248-302-2222.
