Preparing for Constitution Day with a little needlework

One of the most important days of the year in the Norwegian society is our Constitution Day - May 17th. On this day we celebrate the fact that we got our very own constitution back in 1814, after having been ruled by the Danes for 400 years.

Our Constitution Day is celebrated more thoroughly than how most countries celebrate their national days, and for first-timers it can seem a little daunting and an overly nationalistic experience. But it's really a celebration of democratic rights for all, and everyone's invited, regardless of nationality, ethnicity and religion. Where other countries have military parades, it's the children that parade our streets on Constitution Day. There are lots of games and parties for the children, and it's a day to be spent with friends and family.

One of the most important ingredients of the Constitution Day is the bunad. The bunad is our national costume, and although it can be worn by both men and women, the majority that wears it are women. The bunad is an intricately embroidered dress with loads of bling. That means it's an expensive garment, and the dresses often run in families, being handed down from one generation to the next. This year, it was my eldest daughter who inherited a bunad from a cousin. I cannot say how old this particular bunad really is, but I wore it when I was a teenager, and it was old at that point. My aunt was the first owner of it. She had it in her youth, and she is well into her sixties today.

Because the cousin is 16, and my daughter only 11, amendments had to be made to the dress. Hence, the needlework. The bunad had to be taken in at the shoulders and around the waist. It's quite easy, straight forward work, but since the dress is such an old family heirloom, it made me a little nervous all the same. It turned out okay though, and my daughter is now ready for May 17th - Constitution Day.

Details of the beautiful embroidery