17th+May

===Here is where you write your answer to the question. It should be your own opinion - try to think carefully about it before you write, and explain your ideas fully, with evidence. No specific word limit, but around 150 words is fine...===

'Explain whether you think that the 17th May is still a relevant celebration for Norway and whether we should still have it.'
Is the 17th May still a relevant celebration for Norway and should still celebrate it? Well I personally think that the 17th of may will always be of relevance to most Norwegians as it signifies the day when the the Norwegian constitution was created, long back in 1814. I think that the 17th of may should be celebrated and continue to be created as it is an important day in Norwegian history and culture. However, i'm sure that most can admit that the 17th of may has lost some of it's original appeal to some people. Now, it is common for a parade and then having ice cream and going to the fair ground but then again - isn't that what the 17th of May is about? Bringing people together.
 * George **

The 17th of May may just be another holiday for some but it should continue to be celebrated by Norwegians all over the world to celebrate the freedom of the country that Norwegians call home. It was a massive, positive change for the Norwegians and without it, we would probably still be part of another country to this very day.

Sarina:
I think that the celebration of 17th of May is a nice happening reminding all the citizens about what happened the 17th of May 1814 at Eidsvoll. Whenever the date is current the Norwegian dress up, march and sing songs related to the big day. This is a day that a lot of people are looking forward to and it is often filled with fun things that you can do all day. Amusement park, candy, hanging out with family and friends, ect. This is actually considered like a holiday that Norway celebrates like it liberation day and we have done it ever since 1814. Maybe not as big at that time but for the current time of Norway I think that it is important to celebrate it. One more day for us to look forward to, one more day where we can get filled with joy and one more day to celebrate one more good thing with Norway. I like 17th of May really much and I hope that Norway will always keep this day as a celebration.

Kevin Each year on May 17 Norwegians fill the streets with cheers and flags in celebration of Norway's constitution, adopted in 1814. And I say we should continue doing that. Celebrating the day they became free and made them selves independent is something worth celebrating and use blood money on. =__Ahmad__= I think Norway should have 17 may, because it is the only day what is a celebration of their countries freedom and what is about Norway. They celebrate birth of Jesus, Christmas and many other Christian things, but really they should also celebrate something about their country and not only Jesus doing something. 17 may is also basically a big history moment for Norway when they got freedom and laws. They got separated from Denmark and got their status as Norwegian person. They actually became a country! 17 may is the day when life of millions of people changed and made Norway starting making a step into creating history. So I think they should have party and celebrate their countries independence and have a good time!

__Maren:__I think 17 of May still a relevant celebration for Norway because not only should we still show gratitude for our freedom, but the 17 th of May has now become a traditional celebrating. I think we should still show gratitude for our independence as it has played such a large and important part in our history. For years and years we lived crushed under the power of Denmark and Sweden, we fought hard and long for our independence. Without our independence we might still have been a part of Sweden, all our oil would be their oil. We should still show we are proud and grateful for our independence. The 17 th of May has also become a tradition in Norway. In the USA you celebrate Thanks Giving even though people don't need to thank for their harvest, or celebrate peace with the Indians. We haven't cancelled Thanksgiving, and we shall not cancel 17 th of May, because it is not longer all about being thankful, but a long standing tradition, like Christmas.

KATJA
The 17th of May is a very important celebration in Norway. Lot's of Norwegian families raise the Norwegian flag in the morning of 17th of May, before they go to town with their children, then watching the children marching past in the parade. The Norwegian people is a very patriotic people, they will dress up in their Bunad's on the 17th of May (if they have one) and eat themselves full of ice cream and hot dogs and waffles and whatever food they like to eat. The children buy helium balloons and almost everyone have mini versions of the Norwegian flag which they wave around. I would say that the 17th of May is an irreplaceable celebration which we should keep for ever.

Isabella
Today, we celebrate the 17th of May as if it were an enormous national party, with parades of kids and adults roaming the streets, and numerous carnivals in every town. Ice cream and hotdogs never sell as well as on this particular day. Even during all this partying, it is impossible to forget the real reason for the celebration, because one of the main 17th of May traditions of the majority of Norwegians is to listen to the mayor's and royal family's 17th of May speeches. During this speech, people listen to the history of 17th of May, and why we celebrate this particular day. This day marks one of the most important events in Norwegian history, and it is worth celebrating, because it reveals the nostalgic happiness of the independence which made Norway the country it is today.

I see no reason why we should not still celebrate this day. It reveals the spirit and happiness of the people Norway is proud of. Norwegians in other countries also celebrate this joyful day, with parades in the streets of Spain, Estonia and even in some places in USA. This is a day for Norwegians to get together and to have fun, and we get reminded each year of how Norway through so many years has prospered so greatly to become the magnificent country it is today.

This day, 17th May 1814 is the day which Norway got an own country. It made itself independent and became free to make own decision and rules. And after all those years of being under Denmark or Sweden. Norway had finally come free. I think that the celebration of the 17th of May depends on your own religion and backgrounds. Many Norwegians will be against not to celebrate the 17th of May, because it is their tradition and a part of their countries history. It marks Norway’s independence, and had the Constitution not been created, then we might still have been a part of Denmark and/or Sweden. The creation of the Constitution allowed Norway to make itself more of an individual country, by creating its own language and culture, and moreover it gained the power to create its own laws. That Norway became independent shows also that the general independence of countries in Europe.
 * Anna**

On the 17th of May 1814, Norway became a independent country. They created their own laws and made their own desicions, which is a very important step towards independency and becoming a solid and good country. The celebration of the 17th of May depends mostly on the persons religion. Some people who are not Norwegian might not even care about celebrating the 17th of May or not, but for Norwegians its a tradition and it's there to mark Norway's independency. If Norwegians did not care to celebrate this day, then who would? I, personally do not care about celebrating the 17th of May or not, although I do not have any problems with celebrating it. The day just isn't special for me. **

Julie: ** 17th May 1814: the day on which Norway became an independent country. It was on that exact day in that exact year that the Constitution was signed – and so, after a long struggle for over five hundred years, Norway had finally become free from Sweden and Denmark's alternating grips. I believe that the 17th May is still an important day to celebrate in Norway. It marks Norway’s independence, and had the Constitution not been created, then we might still have been a part of Denmark and/or Sweden. The creation of the Constitution allowed Norway to make itself more of an individual country, by creating its own language and culture, and moreover it gained the power to create its own laws. I believe that Norway becoming independent is an excellent example of the individualisation of countries in general. If each country had not stood up for itself then the whole world would have eventually become one country. People would most probably be forced to have the same religious beliefs, and it would be almost unavoidable that eventually the people running the so-called global country would become so addicted to power that the social structure would crumble. Due to these reasons I would conclude that, thanks to the Constitution, we now have the power to create our own Norway, without being influenced by other countries which are bigger and/or more powerful than us.

I think the 17th of May is still quite a relevant celebration, although maybe not as much as it used to be. I think nowadays, people think of it more as a day off from work or school, a day to go to the tivoli or just relax and eat hot dogs and ice cream. While 17th of May might not be thought of the same way it was supposed to be when created, it is still a day of celebration, and also a day of remembering. After all, had it not been for the constitution, we would probably still be in a union with Sweden, or possibly Denmark. The 17th of May is not thought of in the same way it might have been intended to be, it is still important to have some sort of day that signifies our independence, which after all, in our world, is not guaranteed.
 * Axel**

**Jessica**

I think that norway should continue to celebrate the 17th of May. When we celebrate Norway's independence day I think about our forefathers and those who fought and helped us to were we are today. 17th May is a day when we look back and appriciate what we have and can do. I think that norwegians are proud of 17th May and that they would like to continue with this tradition. For me 17th -may is more about hot dogs, ice cream, dresses, and nice weather. So I think we are starting to celebrate it for the wrong reasons. But if we learn about this day in school, then I think it will be good. Besides, we all like a day of!

My meaning is that its a good thing that the 17th of May is still celebrated, still if not everyone remember why, we still get the reminder this day when listening to all the speeches which gives us the long summary over and over again each year, its a nice day for Norwegian family and others to get together and have a nice day, a family tradition. A family day. So the day is maybe more looked upon as a family day now, and should be kept as a national day, just as a reminder.

17 May Bruno

I Think that it is still a good thing to celebrate, after all they are celebrating their constitution. After all it is the first time they don't have to follow the every whim of their monarch. It is their pride that finally they don't have to do as another country tells it to do. It is a thing that I think the Norwegians should keep celebrating because it is their celebration of finally governing themselves. It is also a good excuse to block traffic, get drunk and get out of work.

Hallvard Is the 17th of May still relevant for Norway?

If I would have to answer if the question is the 17th of May still relevant for Norway I would say yes, Norway maybe never got free from any country on the 17th of may, but on this day they started the hope for a free and united Norway and today they celebrate it with games and parades as one Norwegian country. It is on this day every Norwegian person celebrates together as a free Norway so the 17th of May bounds the Norwegian people together every year. They all celebrate the day waving the Norwegian flag, singing Norwegian songs and going in the traditional Norwegian cloth. Norway has established a day where every Norwegian person is celebrating for the one and same reason, the freedom of the people ( the freedom of themselves) it’s a bit like celebrating a birthday for someone, we play games and eat good food like cakes and ice cream and are happy like every other birthday.

**Patrick Mitchell Utne****.** **Social Studies Topic: 17 May** The key principles of the Norwegian Constitution (Grunnloven) are: · the sovereignty of the people · the separation of powers · human rights The sovereignty of the people means that power lies with the people, who have the right to govern themselves. The people have the right to elect their own representatives to a parliament, which – among other things – makes the laws by which society is organized. The principle of separating the different branches of government means that it is thought to be necessary to keep the Legislative power (the Parliament), the Executive power (the King) and the Judicial power (the Court) apart. Power has to be divided between the different Powers, making them independent of each other but also giving them some power of veto or control over each other. The point is to prevent the concentration of power in just one branch of government, and to make the abuse of power difficult. The Constitution is meant to guarantee the “innate and inalienable” rights of each citizen. It guarantees freedom of speech, the right to vote, the protection of the value of your property, and protection under the law. Some rights have been added since then, like freedom of information and the right to respect international human rights.
 * 1.** **Explain t****he key principles** **of Grunnloven**
 * The sovereignty of the people**
 * The separation of the powers**
 * Civil rights**

2. **Explain whether you think that the 17th May is still a relevant celebration for** **Norway** **and whether we should still have it**.

The 17th May is still a relevant celebration for Norway because: · Having a democracy with a written constitution is always something to celebrate · Being an independent nation is always something to celebrate · Having freedom of speech is always something to celebrate · The 17th May is not a military celebration – it is not aggressive or about power. The ones who take part are ordinary men, women and children who celebrate the fact that they live together in peace and freedom in the “best country in the world”. · Most countries have some kind of national day – where you celebrate a shared sense of identity and belonging. In Norway it’s a good excuse to basically celebrate being alive and express patriotism · If it wasn’t for the 17th of May, what would happen to the Norwegian flag industry, and all the small manufacturers who make badges with pictures of the King and Queen and bunting and ribbons;) · Having the 17th of May helps Norwegians focus on what it means to live in Norway. That means we can always get better about including different groups and people and viewpoints. The Norwegian Constitution used not to allow Jews and Jesuits in Norway. There may be things we can do better. We will have more and more to celebrate!

I belive that May 17th is still a relevant celebration for Norway, and that we should keep it. May 17th is the day Norway got its own constitution. This was right after the union with Denmark broke in 1814, and it reflects how much Norwegians wanted to have their own country (though sadly they had to join with Sweden the same year). This holiday reminds us how lucky we are to be independent and free, when we have been controlled by other countries for a large part of history. So I see no reason not to celebrate this day, which is basically the day when Norway became an independent country. It is still important now as it was when it was first celebrated, because if Norway did not make its own constitution, it could've still been a part of Sweden or Denmark, and that fact doesn't change even if it's almost 200 years since it happened. This is the day for Norwegians to celebrate living in their own country instead of some other one (which is a good thing) so go ahead and party!


 * __John Christian__**

The Norwegian constitution was made official the 17th of May, 1814, and was at the time, the most radical constitution in the world. It is also the oldest constitution in Europe still in force. The celebration of this day began amongst students, but since Norway was still under Swedish rule, the celebration was banned, and was considered revolt against Swedish sovereignty. However, later in the years, the celebration became more established, and already in the 1820s, the first children parade took place. However, despite the intriguing history of the celebration, time has moved on, and one could say that the motive for the celebration has changed over the years, and in some ways, has become less patriotic and nationalistic. It is of course still celebrated, in a grand fashion, but the average person does not celebrate the day with the constitution, and independence of Norway in mind. Nevertheless, in spite of this, the day is symbolical, whether one acknowledges that or not, and is important to Norway, to show that we are indeed an independent country, and it is of course a tradition worth upholding.

Ada:  The 17th of May is a day of celebration for Norway, many people might not know why they get the day off to celebrate but its still a day off. The 17th of May although is the day when the Norwegian constitution was written at Eidsvoll in 1814, and celebrating this day every year is to make everyone remember. The constitution was a part of Norwegian history and to keep some of Norwegian tradition in Norwegians, one can´t put important dates and periods out of peoples minds, so the day is a good way for people to remember what happened.Yes, we should still celebrate the day, a way of showing a Norwegian man on the national day.