Norwegians celebrate National Day in Pattaya
Hip,
hip, hurrah!
Pattaya-area Norwegians celebrated their homeland’s
national day with prayer, a parade and a party at the Seaman’s Church.
Pastor
Jan Johannessen started the celebration by reminding everyone how lucky
Norwegians are living in Thailand.
Twenty-five sponsors helped stage the May 17 celebration,
which began with a traditional breakfast of smoked salmon, goat cheese,
scrambled eggs and freshly baked break.
More than 260 people turned out for the event, which continued with a short
worship service lead by Rev. Jan Olav Johannessen, the singing of the
Norwegian national anthem, royal song and hymns.
Pastor Jan Johannessen started the celebration by reminding everyone how
lucky Norwegians are living in Thailand. He also asked them to never forget
their Christian heritage, but also accept their Thai wife’s belief in
Buddha.
There’s
nothing quite like a good hot dog on a beautiful day.
The day’s big surprise came with the opening of a new
piece of land acquired by the Magna Carta law firm for the church. The lot
got its first use as a party ground with games for children, toys, ice
cream, hot dogs, free t-shirts and drinks.
Norway’s constitution was signed at Eidsvoll on May 17, 1814, declaring
Norway to be an independent nation, with its own constitution, separate from
Sweden. By historical coincidence, the Second World War ended in Norway just
nine days before that year’s Constitution Day, on May 8, 1945, when the
occupying German forces surrendered. Even if The Liberation Day is an
official flag day in Norway, the day is not an official holiday and is not
broadly celebrated. Instead a new and broader meaning has been added to the
celebration of Norwegian Constitution Day on May 17.
A big part of the celebration is the annual parade, often highlighting the
future of the country, the children. Local Norwegians didn’t disappoint, and
for the 8th consecutive year, they celebrated their national day, which this
year included a parade through the streets of Pattaya. Many participants,
especially the children, wore national attire and waved Norwegian flags.
Despite the Thai heat, everyone attending felt like they were back home in
Norway, if just for a day.
Norwegians parade through the
streets, waving the Norwegian flag.
Youngsters prepare for the fun
activities.
More than 260 people turned
out for the event, singing the Norwegian national anthem, royal song and
hymns.
Many participants, especially
the children, wore national attire and waved Norwegian flags.
The newly purchased land for
the church got its first use as a party ground with games for children.
Many of the May 17 activities
center around children.
