Celebrating the Danish National Day

Last year we startet a tradition (or at least we hope that it will become a tradition) of celebrating the Danish National Day.

The Danish National Day falls on 5 June, the Constitution Day, and the day is not celebrated like the Norwegian 17 May or the American 4 July. The Danes go to political meetings, not parades. It is the day of the political parties, not the people per se.

The Danes got their Constitution in 1849, adopting a constitutional monarcy, based on the Belgian model. It was a very volatile time, with turmoil and social revolutions all over Europe. In order to prevent this a democratic reform began, ending in the Constitution signed 7 june 1849 by a reluctant King Christian 7, the last of the Oldenburg kings on the Danish throne.

Although we were not attempting to start a parade (the Danes are very good at parades when dissatisfied with something), we wanted to make give the day a positive value. Jan was really excited about singing the national anthem and other songs from the "Højskolesangbog" (a Danish song book).

Above are som pictures from this years celebration - a brunch with some of our friends.

17 May 2009

Last year we celebrated the Norwegian Constitution Day in Copenhagen. This is something all Norwegians do, all over the world. Not surprisingly, we did the same this year. Although it's a bit overdue, here are some pictures from the day:

To the left: Jan at the service, proudly wearing a flag ribbon; In the middle: The parade through Christianshavn; To the right: John-Arne happy because he has secured a bottle of Solo.

17 May is just like 4th of July for Americans. It's a day where we celebrate freedom, independence and human rights - in gratitude to those who defended it through our history, but primarily it is the day of the children. And it is the day when all Norwegians become children.

Norwegian Constitution Day in Denmark

Outside of the Norwegian Church in Copenhagen


Norwegians celebrate their Constitution Day on the 17 May, even when living abroad. The day is the Norwegian National Day, and we celebrate it to commemorate that Norway got it's first Constitution in 1814. Previously we were a part of Denmark (until 1536 we were in union with Denmark and after that we became a part of Denmark) and in 1814 we were handed over to Sweden as a part of the peace settlement of Kiel (the end of the Napoleonic wars). Denmark so to say lost Norway to Sweden. Needless to say the day grew in importance during the union with Sweden. The closest comparison to the Norwegian Constitution Day is the American 4th of July.

The day itself is celebrated with children parading (marching) in the streets, band playing etc. We sing the National Anthem and other songs that expresses our national identity. A lot of Norwegians and Samis put on their national costume. Dignitaries give speeches about liberty, tolerance and human rights. It's a day for everbody who comes from Norway (read: people like me) and people who for whatever reason is attached to Norway (e.g.: Jan).

For me it was a strange thing to celebrate it abroad, for the second time. Last time was in Germany while studying there. Denmark is however more exciting, there are more Norwegians in Copenhagen and the country is explicitly mentioned in verse 6 of our National Anthem, as one of the three brothers of Scandinavia.



Jan shouting Hurra and me enjoying the parade.


Me and Jan went downtown for the day, it began with a service in Christian's Church, followed by the parade to the Norwegian Church in Copenhagen. There the ambassador held a speech, songs were sung and we got something to eat. The day made me proud and it was interesting to hear the ambassador's speech.


I actually think Jan enjoyed the day greatly. At least he is talking about starting a tradition here in Denmark, celebrating the Danish Constitution Day.

Job over ...

The 30 April 2008 I quit my job in Oslo. It's sort of a "game over" when you leave your job. I have worked at MF Norwegian School of Theology for nearly four and a half years, for me that's quite some time. The first half year I worked as a Higher Executive Officer, and then for the remainder of time I worked as an Academic Studenter Advisor. The first couple of years with a responsibility for the postgraduate programs (including Professinal Degree in Theology and Ministry) and the two last years as a Teaching Coordinator (working with planning and schedule). The week before I quit the job, I was in Oslo to step down and to be celebrated (if you can call leaving ones job a celebration).

The entire leaving-process was weird. I felt strechted out between the pressure and stress the last couple of days to finish some projects we were working on and then the insatiable pleasure knowing it would all be over soon.

Me and my successor in the job, Arfinn, in my old office.

One of the evenings my collegues invited me to a Lebanese restaurant were I enjoyed a nice meal and good words. And they presented me with a card and a gift certificate (for a book store - who may have suspected that! ;-)

At the restaurant. In the left picture (from left): Rune, Elna, Claudia, Arnfinn and me (who needs to go on a diet). In the right picture: Hallvard, Marie-Luise and Ann (giving a speech).

The last day the entire faculty and other employees were invited to eat ice cream and drink coffee. And a lot of the people paid homage to me, and I'm going to remember some of the good words that were given to me. Academics don't hand them out too often...

After that week me, Jan and some friends went to Barcelona together. But that is material for another entry. Right now I'm unemployed - and often bored... go figure... but luckily (?) MF has hired my as a special consultant for a couple of days in the end of May... at least I get to return to old hunting grounds for a while...

(And thanks to the ever kind Pirjo for sharing the pictures from my last days at MF)