Today (yesterday from my Oregon POV) Norway comes together to celebrate syttende mai (17th of May), the anniversary of the signing of the Norwegian constitution. Norway is a Constitutional Monarchy. King Harald V has competed in several Olympic Games (in sailing). Like Queen Elizabeth II of England, King Harald has a symbolic and representational role as sovereign. Parliament makes the laws. Even a king knows his place in a democracy.
Although Norway didn’t become fully independent until 1905, the Eidsvoll agreement of 1814 was nevertheless a pivotal moment in Norway’s history, declaring Norway independent from Denmark. Just a few months later an independent union with Sweden began, so celebrations to mark the constitution were muted for years to come.
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