Why is 17th of May the best day for language students? Because “Hurra!” is the only word you need to say all day! Oh well, - you may need a few more words. “Gratulerer med dagen” is a common greeting among Norwegian people on the day and “Hipp, hipp, HURRA” is the cheering you will hear from kids, and adults, in the parades and throughout the whole day.
17th of May is Norway’s National Day or Constitution day ("nasjonaldagen" or "grunnlovsdagen"), and we’re celebrating that Norway got it’s own constitution (“grunnlov”) in 1814. After more than 400 years in union with Denmark, Norway got is own constiutution in 1814, and it was completed at Eidsvoll on the 17th of May. Even though we were to be in a union with Sweden from 1814 to 1905, we had our own constitution.
May is the last month of spring and the start of summer in Norway. The vibrant green colours in nature never stops to surprise me. The evenings are just getting longer and longer, until the sun turns on June 23, Sankthansaften (Midsummer Eve). In Oslo for example, on 17th of May the sun rises at 04:35 in the morning and it doesn't set before 09:53pm. And if you add the time of twilight (“tussmørke”) it will not be really dark before 11pm, and it starts getting light at 3:30 in the morning. Long, summer days for sure. 
The national day is famous for all the Children’s parades (“Barnetoget”) around the country, and especially in Oslo where all the school kids walk in the parade past the Royal Palace waving with their flags (“flagg”) to the royal family on the balcony. This is often what you will see on photos from the 17th of May-celebration. You can read and see more photos about the celebration of 17th of May (pronunciation: “søttende mai) here: https://www.visitnorway.com/typically-norwegian/norways-national-day/
The Norwegian flag (“norsk flagg”) is important on the national day, and the colours red, white and blue (“rødt hvitt og blått”) are often used in decorations and clothing on the day. This is also the day where people wear "bunader" (national costumes) and variations of these and what we call “festdrakt”. Each bunad has their origin in a geographical area, while the festdrakt has no geographical connection, but is inspired by Norwegian bunader og “folkedrakter” (folkedrakter were the daily clothing in a specific area). There is also lots of music in the parades. School bands (“musikkkorps”) are very common in Norway, and the national anthem (“nasjonalsangen”) is played and sung many times during the day, as well as other Norweian songs. You can listen to the national anthem here with both Norwegian and English subtitles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzEplnaDlQ0 or this Norwegian subtitles only version (better video, I always get homesick when I watch this one) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qr3HJIp9cvY
During covid in 2020 I was moved to tears during the live celebration on NRK TV and with the very strange situation of a 17th of May without the Children's Parade. So, I can see how the 17th of May parades (“17.mai-tog”) became so popular after the Second World War in Norway. On the 17th of May 1945 202 000 children walked passed the Royal castle (“slottet”) to wave to the royal family (“kongefamilien”). For children, eating lots of ice cream (“is”) and hotdogs (“pølse i brød” or “pølse med lompe”) are two of their favourite things on the day, and of course; cream cake / sponge cake (“bløtekake”) and waffles (“vafler”) are popular too. If you would like to see and hear more about the celebration of 17.mai in Norway here is another interesting video, from David Nikel, a British writer who moved to Norway in 2011, about 10 typical things you need to know about 17th of May in Norway: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QV88i9uE4I or you can just ask your Norwegian friend or language teacer of course. And for those of you who are celebrating 17.mai for the first time: What do Norwegian learners say after surviving their first 17th of May? “I came, I saw, I misunderstood—but I waved my flag with confidence!”
17.mai is celebrated by Norwegians all around the world, and here in Australia you will find celebrations in all the big cities. Every year on the main news on NRK TV, Dagsrevyen, you can see video clips from celebrations around the world. I would love to hear about your celebration here in Australia, by yourself or with others. You're welcome to share with me on my instagram acccount: https://www.instagram.com/norwegian_lessons/
The Norwegian church abroad, Sjømannskirken, works closely with Norwegian students and organisations around Australia and you can read about all Australia’s 17th of May events in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adeleide, Perth and Canberra here: https://www.sjomannskirken.no/her/student/australia/17-mai-feiringer-i-australia/
All interested in Norwegian language and culture are welcome (Velkommen) in the celebration.
And finally, the 17th of May - test (you didn't think you would get by with only saying "Hurra", did you?)
Do you remember the meaning of these 17 expressions/words from the text?
nasjonaldagen, grunnlov, tussmørke, barnetoget, flagg, 17.mai-tog, rødt, hvitt og blått, Bunad, folkedrakt and festdrakt, musikkkorps, nasjonalsangen, is, pølse i brød or pølse med lompe, vafler, bløtekake, slottet, kongefamilien, velkommen.
Gratulerer med dagen, - Hipp, hipp - Hurra,
Lene
