happy birthday norway

at 7 am we awoke to a canon shot and a marching band. it must be 17 mai in norway!

norwegians celebrate their constitution day with great gala by wishing everyone a happy birthday, putting on their fancy dress and parading in the streets. we considered putting owen in traditional costume--known as a bunad (children recieve them in may as part of their christening)--because he'd look smashing in a red vest and silver buckled knickers. although the red white and blue would work quite well back in the states somehow i don't think the wool would fare as well at a 4th of july picnic.

we made do with a norwegian flag, a fancy cow bell and a festive honker. owen enjoyed watching the parade which featured groups of schoolchildren, jugglers and the end of "russ" (see 17 mai link above)

all of the parading and cow-bell ringing wore us out and so we joined the other norwegians

and ate cake: