PHOTO FEATURE: Like Norwegians all over the country, proud citizens in Stavanger dressed up and set aside all the world’s problems on their national day on Sunday. Celebrations on the 17th of May vary from region to region, but they’re all aimed at strengthening fellowship and carrying on traditions.
These young women were in good spirits and happy to greet out-of-towners in the oldest section of the city, Gamle Stavanger, featuring small white wooden homes from the late 1700s. Despite the women’s traditional garments they also had a literally good grip on modern mobile phones as they headed out to meet friends after the city’s first parade of the day.
Towering over the historic homes was another large cruise ship, which unleashed tourists who may have been a bit perplexed by all the flag-waving, parades and unusual apparel of the locals. The cruiseships have become controversial but didn’t spoil the mood in Stavanger, which has evolved over the years into Norway’s capital of the oil and offshore industry.
Stavanger doesn’t settle for just one big parade featuring schools from around the city. It has three, with the first one of the day devoted to the city’s school children and youth, along with their teachers. This year’s parade was led by Tjensvoll School because it’s also celebrating its 170th anniversary.
Another school celebrating an important anniversary, its 60th, was the International School of Stavanger. It was founded in connection with all the international oil industry experts who arrived in Stavanger in the 1960s to launch the search for offshore oil fields. The first major discovery came in 1969, ushering in Norway’s past six decades of rising prosperity. The recent jump in oil prices is adding to that, even though Norwegians also face much higher pump prices.
The parade was ceremoniously launched by Stavanger Mayor Tormod Wilson Losnedal, who stressed how celebrating the 17th of May (the day Norway’s constitution was signed in 1814) “never goes out of style.” Losnedal called the celebrations both “formal and folksey,” and a day “when we manage to nurture long traditions and renew their celebration at the same time.” Most of all, he noted, is that the 17th of May “is all about us,” and a day when “fellowship is the most important” and political posturing is set aside.
Marching first of all, in line with tradition, was the local police chief. For Odd Tveit Jørgensen it was his last time to lead the parade after 20 years as chief in both Sandnes and Stavanger and 46 years in the police. “My wife says I’ve loved it, and she’s right,” Jørgensen told local newspaper Stavanger Aftenblad. “I think it’s great.” He’s been involved in several criminal cases of national and even international interest, but the annual 17th of May parades remain important.
Jørgensen wasn’t the only one in uniform at Sunday’s main parade in Stavanger. These sailors from the Norwegian Navy willingly posed for photos, among many others spotted around the downtown area on the 17th of May. Norway has been investing record sums in defense and security after Russia invaded Ukraine more than four years ago, and military recruitment is higher than ever also. There’s a major Norwegian naval base just south of downtown Stavanger, and the national naval academy is in Bergen to the north.
Others mingling among the many locals were passengers off the cruise ship, several of whom looked a bit puzzled …
…while 17th of May veterans were happy to help. Celebrations lasted throughout the day, with the third “People’s Parade” (Folketoget) starting at 4pm. It features representatives from around 80 civic organizations, sports clubs and even players on the local football team (Viking) and hockey team (Oilers). Partying afterwards can often run late, but with the 17th of May falling on a Sunday this year, everyone had to remember that it was back to work and school on Monday.
ALL PHOTOS:NewsinEnglish.no/Morten Møst
TEXT:NewsinEnglish.no/Nina Berglund
