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Lodge Activities - Syttende Mai Festivities

Solglyt Sons of Norway Lodge 4-143 in Edmonton organizes several annual events that are eagerly anticipated by the membership. Among these are the Syttende Mai Banquet in May and the Lutefisk Supper in January.

This year's Syttende Mai events are scheduled as follows:
Tues May 17 Syttende Mai Festivities
    Dutch Canadian Centre 11:00 am
    Click here for detailed poster
     
Sat May 14 Syttende Mai Banquet
    International Hall DCSC - 13312 - 142 Street
    Click here for detailed poster
A Brief History of Norway and the Significance of Syttende Mai
by Ken Domier
It was not until the Viking Age that Norwegians became important in history. The Viking Age saw Norsemen raid the coasts of Northwest Europe and sail over large areas of the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans.

In the late 9th century Norway became a united country under King Harald the Fair-haired. The annual raiding expeditions ended after the introduction of Christianity about 1030.

Norway was at the peak of its power at about 1260. All the Viking territories from Europe to Greenland had sworn their allegiance to the Norwegian King.
LODGE MEMBERS IN THEIR BUNADS
at syttende mai festival
In the 14th century the plague, known as the Black Death, killed more than one-third of the Norwegian population. Shortly after the plague, Margrete was the wife of the King of Norway, Haakon VI. She was also the daughter of the King of Denmark.
When her father died, Margrete, who was already the Queen of Norway, became the ruler of Denmark. Margrete’s husband died soon thereafter, and she also became the ruler of Norway. Then Margrete was elected to rule Sweden as well. So, Margrete united Norway, Sweden and Denmark with the power centered in Denmark. But Sweden broke away after about 125 years in 1448.
Solglyt President Roger Bruce &
Honorary Norwegian Consul
Roar Tungland
Flag raising 2003
Danish domination of Norway continued until 1814. Denmark was on the losing side of the Napoleonic war and by the Treaty of Kiel was forced to cede Norway to Sweden. During the changeover, Norway proclaimed its own democratic constitution at Eidsvoll on May 17, 1814. Ever since, May 17 has been celebrated as the country’s national holiday.

But Norway was not yet independent. Nor were the Norwegians any happier under Swedish rule than they had been under Danish administration.

Finally in June, 1905, the Norwegian Parliament voted to end the union with Sweden. Representatives from both countries calmly discussed the issues and drew up a convention, which both countries ratified, and the two countries parted peacefully. The Norwegian Parliament elected Prince Carl of Denmark to be Norway’s new King, and he was re-named King Haakon VII.

Syttende Mai or May 17 marks the country’s declaration of independence and the triumph of constitutional government.

This day is also called Constitution Day and National Day and is a great spring festival in Norway. School is cancelled and children and adults join in parades in virtually every city and town.

In Oslo, the King and Queen and the rest of the Royal family are out on the balcony of the palace waving to the assembled crowd.

In Edmonton, Syttende Mai celebrations were held as early as 1912. The Edmonton Journal on May 16, 1912 had an article about the influx of Norwegians into the Edmonton area and the celebrations that were being planned by the new “Norwegian Literary Society”. Programmes were to be held in the East End City Park consisting of music by the Camrose College Band and solos and speeches by prominent men. In the evening a musical program was to be held in the Separate School Hall on Third Street.

In 1913, the celebration was held under the auspices of the newly formed Sons of Norway Lodge called Nord Polen. Five hundred Norwegians gathered at the exhibition grounds on May 17 to celebrate the 99th anniversary of Norway’s National Day. In the evening a Scandinavian concert and dance was held in the Separate School Hall. Professor Bland of the Alberta College gave a stirring address on the Canadian view of Norwegian settlers.
President Elaine Domier
addresses attendees
SYTTENDE MAI 2006
Similar celebrations were held in 1914 and 1915 as reported in the Edmonton Bulletin and the Edmonton Journal. Many of the Norwegians enlisted in the Canadian Army and went off to Europe. This resulted in a cessation of activities in Sons of Norway in Edmonton which did not return until 1927 when the lodge was re-organized under the more friendly name of Solglyt (glimmering sun).
During the past 80 years, Syttende Mai has been celebrated in many ways in Edmonton including street parades. The raising of the Norwegian flag at City Hall and a banquet is now the norm.