ORKNEY has celebrated the islands' strong historic links on Norway's national Constitution Day.
May 17 is celebrated across Norway and beyond, marking the day the constitution of Norway was signed in 1814.
Orkney Norway Friendship Association host events each year in recognition of the islands’ links with similar celebrations taking place in neighbouring Shetland.
This year, Norwegian visitors followed their ancestors across the North Sea and attended a Remembrance Ceremony at St Olaf’s Cemetery for fallen World War II soldiers.
A parade was held in Kirkwall, led by Kirkwall City Pipe Band, with the national anthem of Norway played alongside flag bearers for both Norway and Scotland.
Lovely remembrance service for Constitution Day with a good gathering of Norwegian visitors many of whom followed their ancestors in sailing across the North Sea#syttendemai #ConstitutionDay #NorwayInUK #OrkneyNorway pic.twitter.com/Wes9qzUWRe
— Norway Consul Orkney (@RNOCOrkney) May 17, 2023
Speeches were made by councillor Graham Bevan, Erik Bugge and Eva Charlotte Nilsen from Vesteralen.
This was followed by a concert in St Magnus Cathedral by Stromness Academy Pupils, and the evening dinner sold out.
The constitution signed in 1814 declared Norway to be an independent kingdom in an attempt to avoid being ceded to Sweden, after Denmark–Norway's devastating defeat in the Napoleonic Wars.
In Norway’s capital city Oslo, a parade is hosted which includes over 100 schools with children acting as marching bands and flag bearers. The parade is broadcast on national television.
