The 17th of May is Norway's National Day. What an experience it was for me! I am finding it so interesting living in a monocultural society - everyone looks the same, everyone speaks the same language, everyone has the same feelings about the country, there is no shame or guilt or division like there is in South Africa. It is very different.
This day is big here. They all wear their traditional dress, called a Bunad, Kristin is pictured wearing her grandmother's Bunad that she wore as a little girl. Bunad's are stunning and expensive, they are hand made and the things cost around R30 000 each! They are different in each region.
Here is Kristin with her 'beste' (grandma), Daniel's mom.
There is a parade through town, here Kristin is waiting to march with some other kids from her preschool.
Here she is with her friend Kristine from school.
Even babies gets dressed up.
The parade begins! The flag is very important to Norwegians, and treated with respect.
There is a South African in the parade! That's our family marching away.
I was very excited to be in the parade! Very new to me.
Even little kids marched while playing instruments.
This is Daniel's mom and sister, Anna, with Kristin.
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wow! It really is a different place and a different life. It's so great to see the sun shining so much there. You look so happy in the parade! I hadn't thought about how much the multi-cultural aspect of our life is such a huge reason for the divisiveness of it too.
ReplyDeleteHi Debby, Debbie Hutton (Koch) here.
ReplyDeleteLooks like an amazing day. Your kids looked so sweet in their outfits. I love Kaleb in his "sailor" suit:-)
I never thought about Norwegians all looking the same, but you're right, they do! All blonde and blue, it must take some getting used to after all the diversity here.
It looks like you are all settling in well, how's it going with the language?
Keep up the posts - not all of us are on facebook!!! Believe it or not!!