Celebration of 17 Mai and Crossings 200

Some tiny ones in their bunads were happy to wave their Norwegian flags

The weather looked far from promising for the 17 mai (Norwegian Constitution Day) celebration at Stanley Park in Ottawa. After a morning downpour, the forecast was for more rain with the possibility of a thunderstorm. We were not only relieved but somewhat astonished when the sun came out at our starting time of 3:00 PM, and shone on us intermittently for the next couple of hours, making for a wonderful afternoon of celebration!

Per Olav Talgøy and his team of 17 mai organizers had worked closely with the Canadian Nordic Society Crossings 200 Committee to make the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the first official Norwegian immigration to North America part of this year’s festivities.

People arrived to the sound of Ottawa's Maple Leaf Brass Band playing traditional Norwegian music. Per Olav opened the program by welcoming everyone and introducing Trygve Ringereide, master of ceremonies, who led the crowd in singing three patriotic songs and later, the Norwegian and Canadian national anthems. The Norwegian Embassy’s Head of Mission, Mr. Trygve Bendiksby, brought warm official greetings on behalf of Norway, emphasizing the importance of children in this special day. Then everyone grabbed their Norwegian flags to wave enthusiastically in the barnetoget, the traditional “children’s parade” that is led by the children, followed by the marching band and then joined by everyone else.

Per Olav Talgøy and Trygve Ringereide

Barnetoget

There was a quiz for the adults and there were games for the many children who attended. And of course, there was the food! Pølser i lumpa (let’s call them Norwegian hot dogs) and a cornucopia of Nordic food including salmon, Jarlsberg cheese, salads, cakes and other sweets and three kransekaker (a festive Norwegian cake decorated with tiny Norwegian flags) disappeared almost entirely before the day was over.

Mr. Trygve Bendiksby, Head of Mission for the Norwegian Embassy, chatting with Gerd Wright, Karin Birnbaum and Hilde Huus

By the time we were cleaning up after the party it had started to rain. A few minutes after we had all left, it started to pour! We can only cross our fingers that we’re as lucky with the weather next year!

Many had their photos taken in front of this fabulous backdrop provided by the Norwegian Embassy (including me, Hilde Huus, in my grandmother’s Gudbrandsdal hverdags bunad!)

Thank you very much to Marian McLennan for these photos!