Dannevirke Scandinavian Club
Norwegian Constitution Day - 2000
At least three places around our region celebrated 'Syttende Mai' ('Seventeenth May') this year. However, as New Zealand does not regard the 17th of May as a special holiday, and as not all conveniently fall on weekends, the organisers traditionally select a day on the closest weekend upon which to acknowledge Norway's special day. Thus in the year 2000, these celebrations occurred on Sunday, 14 May.
The general programme for the day included the town-wide ceremonial event held at Norsewood throughout the day, the more formal event held in Palmerston North in the afternoon, and a meal in the evening in Masterton. These events are co-ordinated to allow those with the energy to attempt to visit at least two of them. The Norsewood event is organised by Norsewood Promotions Inc., the Manawatu event (Palmerston North) involves expatriates with links to the Manawatu Scandinavian Club, while the Masterton event is organised by the Wairarapa Scandinavian Club.
For some years, Norsewood has celebrated Norway's Constitution Day as a major event on its calendar, however, this year the weather was not good. Visitors from Manawatu, Hawkes Bay and Wellington joined with locals to participate in a church service, and then flowers were laid as the town's memorial to its earlier settlers. Some of the local children and some of the adults, also dressed in traditional Norwegian costume for the day.
A 'finger' lunch (i.e. for non-Kiwis: food that can be eaten using fingers only) was then enjoyed by all, with there being strong competition in the 'Scandinavian cooking' class. The winning entry was 'Norwegian Troll Balls', a culinary delight prepared by our president, Bill Gundersen, of Dannevirke.
Two local families with Norwegian ancestry, gave short recitations. These were the Hansen and Mortensen families. In one talk, Mrs Bella Andersen spoke about how her family was only now severing ties with the family farm in the district, which her forebears, the Mortensens, had farmed since the time of the Scandinavian settlement in the area in 1872. The activities concluded with a quartette of 'barber's shop' singers.
The Palmerston North event was held at Caccia Birch House. This included a 'pot luck' meal (i.e. for non-Kiwis: all present contributing food of their own choice toward a smorgasbord meal), a talk on the history of Norway's constitution, meeting up with Norwegians and their families who are currently in the region - and hearing about activities at Norsewood as the intrepid travellers drifted in from that event.
(Last updated: 26 February 2006)