Tradition

Yesterday was a celebration like I have never witnessed. It began early in the morning, and ended after midnight. Even though there are several foreign cultures which have made Norway their home, the original Norwegian bloodline is very deep. And those people are very, very proud of their heritage and their country. It's something that's hard to imagine as an average American that usually looks to another country, or many countries, for their deeper origins.

Celebrating National DayIt seemed that everyone was in Bergen. Spread all over the central part of town were masses of people. And they were wearing their finest clothing. Apparently there is a traditional attire for each small region of this country. A typical women's dress can cost roughly $5000. I can't say I saw the same ensemble twice. And they wore them ALL day. Even the men wore something traditional or a suit and tie. There was great pride in that... there was no changing at mid-day, and certainly no getting dirty or creased. It was an honor and a true celebration. Every age group was equally involved.

The word of the day was Tradition. The Parade lasted hours and snaked throughout the city.   The emphasis was on the people themselves, no fire trucks or advertisements. There was a carnival area, all of the restaurants were open and had special traditional menus, there were bands and dancing, and I'm sure you know how it ended! Can't we all appreciate having some sense of pride in either our origins, our country, our town, or even those extended family reunions?

Here is a very TINY excerpt of a very BIG day.