The only thing prettier than a picture of Norway, is a picture of Norway with a Norwegian flag flying in it!
On a flag day, Norwegian government agencies must comply and residents are also encouraged to participate. The Day of the Sami People is especially colorful because the Sami flag is flown in addition to the Norwegian flag.
Reasons for a Flag Day
While flags can fly on any day, there are a number of formal Flag Days that are written into the Norwegian Constitution. As seems reasonable, many are historical events or official holidays. The others are special birthdays!
Members of the Royal House each have their own flag day which is celebrated on their birthday. While everyone related to the monarchy is, to some degree, royalty, there is a special category called the Royal House. This includes the reigning King or Queen, those directly in the line of succession, and the spouses of those people.
If a member leaves the Royal House, for example when Princess Märtha Louise was married in 2004, they are still of the royal family, but they lose their Royal House status and their flag day.
A flag day is not celebrated in remembrance of a deceased member of the monarchy. If a member of the Norwegian Royal Family dies, the flag flies at half-mast every day from the date of notification of the death received until the funeral has taken place. When the funeral has ended, the flag is raised again. Hopefully we won’t have to deal with that for a very long time!
Date | Holiday | Comments |
---|---|---|
January 1 | New Year | Official Holiday |
January 21 | Princess Ingrid Alexandra | Birthday |
February 6 | Day of the Sami People | Flag Day |
February 21 | King Harald V | Birthday |
May 1 | Labor Day | Worker’s Day |
May 8 | Liberation Day | End of German Occupation, 1945 |
May 17 | Constitution Day | 1814 |
Varies | Easter | Official Holiday |
Varies | Pentecost Day | AKA Whit Monday |
June 7 | Union Dissolution Day | End of Swedish Union, 1905 |
July 4 | Queen Sonja | Birthday |
July 20 | Crown Prince Haakon Magnus | Birthday |
July 29 | Olsok (St.Olaf Day) | King and Patron Saint of Norway |
August 19 | Crown Princess Mette-Marit | Birthday |
September, Varies | Election Day | Alcohol Sales Prohibited |
December 25 | Christmas | Official Holiday |
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