17 May celebrations in Stavanger

How to participate in our 17 May Constitution Day celebrations

17 May («syttende mai») is Norway´s Constitution Day. On 17 May 1814, Norway´s constitution was signed in Eidsvoll and each year this anniversary gives us all a chance to celebrate that we live in a free and democratic country.

Everyone is welcome to participate in the celebration of syttende mai. It is a day of fun, community, flags and parades. This is also a day to celebrate Norway´s cultural diversity and we are glad that we can celebrate together with many other nations. There are people representing over 170 different nationalities in Stavanger.

We hope that this information will make it easier for those of you from other cultures to participate and experience this great day for our country.

Helpful information

Dress code: On syttende mai we dress up in our best clothes. Many Norwegians wear the national costume called bunad. It is common to pin ribbons of red, white and blue, the colours of the Norwegian flag, on your left chest-area.

Check the weather report and be prepared to bring along a raincoat, a warm jacket or an umbrella. The parades always go, rain or shine.

Flag: Get hold of a small Norwegian flag that you can keep with you during the day. Norwegians usually wave the flag and say HURRA!

Key phrase: «Gratulerer med dagen» means literally «Congratulations with the day!» Respond with «Gratulerer med dagen». We may greet those we meet with these words and a smile, even if we do not know them.

Public holiday: All shops and public offices are closed on 17 May  but many restaurants and bars will be open in the city centre on this day.

Driving: Try not to use your car in the city centre because many streets will be closed off due to the parades. Take the bus, cycle or walk. Plan your travels in advance. Everybody is outside celebrating on this day.

Watching the parades: Find a place along the parade routes. See maps online or in the 17 May booklet. You may greet people in the parade by shouting HURRA or HIPP, HIPP HURRA! and waving your flag.

Russ: The city centre will be full of youth wearing red and blue costumes. These are russ, final year high school graduates who have been up all night celebrating.

The main program

10:00 Barnetoget, the main Children's Parade starts from the Radisson Blu Atlantic Hotel by lake Breiavatnet

10:00 Children's Parades in several of Stavanger´s neighbourhoods

After the parades, many primary schools offer celebrations with food sales, games, speeches and live music

11:30 Church service at St. Petri church

12:45 Borgertoget (Citizens' Parade) from the cathedral to the concert hall. Everyone is welcome to take part in the parade

13:00 Celebration outside Stavanger concert hall with food sales, speeches, live music and other cultural elements

13:15 The russ have their own parade from Stavanger Stadium along Eiganesveien to the city centre.

16:00 Folketoget (People's Parade) starts from the Radisson Blu Atlantic Hotel by lake Breiavatnet

Folketoget is the final community event. Normally it finishes by 18:00. People often have private events like barbecues and social gatherings after the parade.

Barnetoget, the main Children's Parade

 

The route: 

1. Politiet
2. Brannbilen
3. Flaggborgen v/ speiderne
4. Jernbanens musikkorps (70 års jubilant)
5. 17. mai komiteen
6. Utvalg for oppvekst og utdanning
7. The British International School of Stavanger
8. Johannes læringssenter
9. Tasta skole (170 års jubilant)
10. Tasta skolekorps
11. Byfjord skole
12. Tastaveden skole (60 års jubilant)
13. Vardenes skole
14. Vardenes skole korps
15. Tastarustå skole
16. Teinå skole
17. International School of Stavanger m/ korps
18. Auglend skole (60 års jubilant)
19. Auglend og Tjensvoll skolekorps
20. Tjensvoll skole
21. Ullandhaug skole
22. KF-skolen (10 års jubilant)
23. Wang Ung
24. Revheim skole
25. Buøy skoles musikkorps
26. Roaldsøy musikkorps
27. Buøy skole
28. Roaldsøy skole
29. Kampen skolekorps
30. Kampen skole
31. Kannik skole
32. Lassa skole
33. Eiganes skolekorps
34. Eiganes skole
35. Stavanger Kristne grunnskole
36. Stavanger musikkorps 1919
37. St. Svithun videregående skole
38. St. Olav videregående skole
39. Steinerskolen
40. Stavanger katedralskole
41. Nylund skolekorps
42. Nylund skole
43. St. Svithun skole
44. Storhaug skolekorps
45. Storhaug skole
46. Våland skolekorps
47. Våland skole
48. Kvaleberg skolekorps
49. Kvaleberg skole
50. Kristianslyst skole

Folketoget (People's Parade)

Starts from the Radisson Blu Atlantic Hotel at 16:00. 

Route: 

1. Brannkorpset
2. Flaggborgen v/ speiderne
3. Jernbanens musikkorps, 70 års jubilant 
4. 17. mai komiteen
5. Kommunestyret, ungdommens kommunestyre og kommunedelsutvalgene
6. Norgesmestrene Stavanger Oilers, Oilers kvinner elite sammen med det ukrainske laget Sdyshor2007
7. Ishockeyklubben Stavanger, 10 årsjubilant 
8. Madlamark skolekorps
9. Brodd fotball, 110 årsjubilant 
10. Forus og Gausel IL, 40 årsjubilant 
11. Hundvåg Cheerleading IL, 20 årsjubilant 
12. Straen gymnastikk og turnforening, 10 årsjubilant
13. Skeiv ungdom Rogaland
14. Stavanger musikkorps 1919
15. Natteravnene i Stavanger sentrum
16. Indian Tamils Association
17. Maharashtra Mandal Stavanger, 10 årsjubilant 
18. Stavanger stupe club
19. Frelsesarmeen
20. Stavanger tennisklubb
21. Ukrainsk forening i Rogaland
22. Stavanger Seilforening
23. Song og spelkorlaget av 8. mars og søn
24. Madla IL
25. Stavanger Basketballklubb
26. Stavanger Røde Kors
27. Musikkorpset Gjallarhorn
28. Stavanger Judoklubb
29. The Redeemed Christian Church of God Dayspring Stavanger
30. Stavanger Lotteforening
31. Tromlingane
32. Speidere i Stavanger
33. Norsk Folkehjelp Stavanger
34. Indian Society of Rogaland
35. Stavanger Turnforening
36. Stavanger Janitsjar med Rogaland Trommelom
37. Stavanger svømmeklubb
38. Mannskoret Canentes Sus Barbatus
39. Hafrsfjord Sykkelklubb
40. Stavanger Kulturskole
41. Alba og Mirakkels orkester
42. Stavanger kunstløpklubb
43. Stavanger Sykleklubb

46. Stavanger IF håndball
47. Stavanger IF fotball
48. Stavanger Blues Club, 25 års jubilant 
49. Thai Buddhist forening i Rogaland
50. Litauisk forening i Rogaland
51. ConocoPhillips Janitsjar
52. Stavanger vannpolo klubb
53. Showakademiet
54. Hundvåg IL/Hundvåg håndball
55. Stavanger Drill
56. Pol idrettslag
57. Stavanger Cheersport Klubb
58. FC Show / Siddis Sportsklubb
59. Fotballklubben Vidar
60. Tasta og Tastavarden HK
61. Vardenes BK
62. Nord-Jæren Sportsdanseklubb
63. Caritas Stavanger – Au pair senter
64. Tasta KFUK-KFUM speiderne
65. Stavanger Brass Band
66. Stavanger Rugbyklubb
67. Sportsklubben Jarl
68. DE voksne af Roaldsøy
69. Stavanger IF fotball
70. Follies Barne og ungdomsteater
71. Siddis Trim og Turnforening
72. Hinna Fotball
73. Universitetet i Stavanger
74. Stavanger Amatørteater
75. Viking FK
76. Viking HK
77. Brodd Håndballklubb
78. Kinesisk forening i Rogaland
79. Open Hands For You
80. Stavanger roller derby klubb
81. Stavanger innebandyklubb
82. Stavanger Taekwon-Do klubb
83. Stavanger Freestyledisco
84. Tjensvoll fotballklubb
85. Frisinn svømmeklubb
86. Steps Dansestudio