On Friday the diplomatic community were invited to Ambassador Jens-Petter Kjemprud’s residence to celebrate our national day and on Sunday, the seventeenth of May, the Norwegian community in Ethiopia came together. It has become a tradition for the Norwegian community in Ethiopia to meet at the Norwegian school to hoist the flag and attend the following church service. The national day celebration continues at the Ambassador’s residence; this year a choir entertained by following speeches by the Ambassador and the traditional 17th of May speech, this year held by Dr Kjell Magne Kiplesund.
As in Norway, the Norwegian community then walked in parade in the residence neighbourhood, waving the Norwegian flags and singing traditional seventeenth of May songs, including the National anthem. After the parade different games and activities were organized for the children in the residence garden; the Norwegian 17th of May speciality “sausage in potato cake” was served as well as salmon and peeled shrimps, the Norwegian national day favourite food.
You can read more about Norway’s constitution day by following the link to the right.