2005 is the one hundredth anniversary of Norway’s true independence, which is celebrated in a spring festival known as Syttende Mai (or 17th of May).

The backdrop for this holiday stretches back to the year 1319, when after 400 years of self-governing, Norway was united with Sweden under Swedish rule.

Some 60 years later, Norway ended up the property of the King of Denmark, with Copenhagen as the capital. Over the next several hundred years, Norway made repeated requests for its own university and its own national bank, but they were forced to wait a long time; it wasn’t until 1811 that its demand for a university was met. The bank idea was flatly rejected, because Copenhagen feared the dual monarchy would dissolve if Norway had its own monetary system.

In the early 1800s, during the Napoleonic wars, Denmark’s King Fredrik sided with France against England. For Norway, this meant blockades and hunger. A few years later, Norway was to be handed back to Sweden as a reward for siding with England’s allies.

Denmark wasn’t pleased with the idea, and the King Fredrik’s son, Crown Prince Christian, headed up a movement for Norway’s independence. King Fredrik supported the idea and supplied the venture with large amounts of grain. Prince Christian incited the rebellion with the assumption he would ascend to the Norwegian throne. But, in the winter and spring of 1814, Norwegians emerged from considerable confusion to find themselves with a powerful desire for independence and their own constitution.

On April 10th, 1814, the popularly elected Norwegian National Assembly met at Eidsvold Iron Works outside Oslo (then called Christiania) to give their country a constitution. One of the representatives later described the Assembly as “a selection of men from all parts of the realm, of all ranks and dialects, men from court circles as well as landowners come together in no set order for the sacred purpose of laying the foundations for the rebirth of the nation.”

Six weeks later, on May 17th, the Assembly completed its work and closed the proceedings by electing Prince Christian King of Norway. The President of the Assembly, Georg Sverdrup, gave a speech, saying, “Thus within Norway’s boundaries is resurrected Norway’s ancient seat of Kings, which was graced by Athelstans and Sverres and from which, with wisdom and might, they ruled over Norway of old.”

Unfortunately, politics between Napoleon and England ended with Norway being forced into a union with Sweden after all. Norway made the declaration “Death before slavery,” and actually conducted a short war with Sweden, but it would be some 60 years before its dreams of independence would come to fruition.

Meanwhile, Norwegians didn’t forget their brush with independence. In most respects, their new constitution was being used for governing, and Norwegians observed May 17th as a solemn reminder of how that constitution came about.

When Norway finally gained its independence in June 1905, Syttende Mai took on a new air of rejoicing and optimism – a day to observe Norway’s very own unique identity. As years went by, a children’s procession was added to the traditional festivities, adding another layer of celebration.

Source: Knut Mykland, The Norwegian Constitution Day, Bergen Guide

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