National Day

So yesterday was our first 17 Mai, aka National Day in Norway. This marks the signing of Norway's constitution in 1814 (although for history fans everywhere they didn't get full independence until 1905) and it is taken extremely seriously by the locals. Everyone gets the day off and many wear traditional costumes - the costumes are determined by where your family comes from and there are 'police' who check if you are entitled to wear it (!).

The main event of the day was the children's parade through Oslo. About 60,000 children from 100 schools paraded through the city centre, around Aker Brygge (the harbour area), along Karl Johans Gate (the main street) and into the Slottsparken (literally Palace park) up to the Royal Palace (Det Kongelige Slott). The King and the rest of the royal family stood on the balcony waving to the kids, who screamed extremely loudly at this point although we think this was because they were right by the TV cameras rather than because of the King.

Oslo was absolutely heaving and there were Norwegian flags everywhere you looked. 

Everyone partied through into the night; we've never heard more ambulance sirens than we did last night!