My friend, Espen, enthusiastically waving the American flag. 

4th of July in Norway.  On July 4th, 1534, Christian III was elected King of Denmark and Norway.  However, there is an annual July 4th celebration in Oslo, Norway for a different reason-American Independence Day.  In fact, there is a Lincoln Monument in Vigelandsparken (refer to an earlier post I wrote for details on this park).  The people of North Dakota gave Vigelandsparken the Lincoln sculpture (a work by Paul Fjelde), which was unveiled on July 4, 1914.  Every year since there has been a celebration on this day.

The year 1914 is significant to Norway because it was the 100th years anniversary of the signing of the Norwegian Constitution in Eidsvoll, Norway.  A delegation from North Dakota, including the governor, sailed the vessel S. S. Kristiania across the Atlantic to Norway for the celebration.  Kong Haakon VII was present at a banquet celebration later in the day. 

This year, a group from North Dakota was again present as this year marks the bicentennial of Lincoln’s birth.  Former U.S. Vice President Walter Mondale attended the celebration.  Actually, some of the people in attendence this year from North Dakota were descendants of some of those from North Dakota back in 1914.  American Embassy representatives working in Norway were also present.�  The event is organized every year by the American Coordinating Council of Norway (ACCN).  Activities include American food (ribs, hot dogs, hamburgers and ice cream), a football game (American football that is, not to be confused with fotball, soccer), a softball game, a classic car show, an Elvis impersonator, and blues music.   One thousand Americans and Norwegian friends show up to celebrate American Independence in Oslo.

Another southern Norwegian community celebrates this day in a similar fashion.  Lista, a community from which thousands of residents emigrated to Brooklyn from the end of the 19th century to the end of the 20th century, is very unique in that most of those emigrants returned and brought heavy American influence back with them.  One can still find American architecture, art, automobiles, language, and food in Lista.  Siv Ringdal, author of several books about this particular topic, developed a project in 2004 called Amerikakofferten, where students from schools in the area interviewed, photographed, and wrote about the huge impact these travels back and forth from their community to Brooklyn have impacted their homestead.  I will certainly write a post about this project as well.  I actually met Siv at a coffee shop in Oslo and asked her all about the project.  She gave me a copy of one of her books too. Very cool.

Please share comments about your experiences with 4. july in Norway!