The Catholic Working Mother
Syttende Mai is the Norwegian Constitution Day (the National Day of Norway) and is an official national holiday observed in Norway on May 17 each year.
It’s a big deal up in North Dakota where I was born and raised, due to the large population of those descended from Norwegian immigrants, like me.
There are usually lutefisk suppers (can’t stand the stuff myself, but I adore lefse and rommegrot) and parades sponsored by the local Sons of Norway lodge and comprised of men, women, and children in traditional Norwegian dress.
Fun facts: when I was younger, I attended Skogfjorden (pronounced “Skoof-yorden”), the Concordia Village Norwegian Language Camp.
My maiden name, Walsvik, translates to “bay of whales.”
I have distant cousins who live in Lillehammer, Norway, and they participated as skaters in the opening ceremonies of the 1994 Winter Olympics.
May 17 is also a special day for me for two reasons: (1) it’s the anniversary of my college graduation (2003), and (2) the anniversary of the day I got my very first positive pregnancy test (2004). Elanor arrived the following January.
It also happens to be the day that we received my youngest son’s in-utero diagnosis of bilateral clubfoot (2013). I can’t say that’s a very happy memory, but it is certainly one that is unforgettable.
In celebration of Syttende Mai, check out this very cool video of the Norwegian King’s Guard and Drill Team doing amazing drills — on ice!
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In