On May 17th, or Syttende mai as the Norwegians call it, the people of Norway all get together in a national celebration of independence. Norwegian flags are seen whichever way you look. This is a good excuse to learn more about Norwegian cooking. And the most prominent decoration for this occasion is no doubt the Norwegian flag. The Norwegian Constitution declared Norway to be an independent nation from Sweden and was signed at Reidsville on May 17, 1814. It was considered one of the most radically democratic …constitutions in the world at the time. Among Norwegians, the day is referred to simply as Syttende mai meaning May Seventeenth. The Norwegian Constitution Day is a family day and all over Norway, parades with children waving flags and singing songs about the National Day form the centre of the festivities. Each school district arranges its own parade with marching bands. The parades often make stops at homes of senior citizens, war memorials, etc. In addition to children's parades, there are parades for the public, where every citizen is welcome to join in. These are led by marching bands and often local boy scouts and girl guides, local choirs, etc. They take place in the early morning or in the afternoon, before or after the school's parade→