About
Syttende Mai


Syttende Mai literally means
the Seventeenth of May…


Syttende Mai (or the 17th of May) marks Norway’s declaration of independence and is a celebration of the 1814 signing of Norway’s constitution and independence from Sweden. This day is also called Constitution Day and National Day and is a great spring festival in Norway.


The celebration of this day began spontaneously among students and others from early on. However Norway was at that time under Swedish rule (following the Convention of Moss in August 1814) and for some years the King of Sweden was reluctant to allow the celebrations. After 1864, the day became more established, and the first children's promenade was launched in Christiania, in a parade consisting only of boys. It was only in 1899 that girls were allowed to join in the parade for the first time.


Spring Grove, Minnesota has been recognizing founding fathers and honoring our Norwegian-American heritage since 1973 with an annual city celebration. Since then, the celebration has seen many changes but continues to emphasize the pride in our Norwegian ancestry through the ageless traditions of art, dance, food, clothing and congregation.

Planning a visit to Spring Grove? Looking for something new to do? Check out these links:

Spring Grove Community/EDA

Bluff Country Artists Gallery

Ye Olde Opera House
Summer Musical

Spring Grove Herald

Doc’s Blue Moose
Restaurant & Ice Cream Shoppe

Spring Grove Digital Cinema

www.yourlocal.coop

www.springgrove.k12.mn.us

www.springgrovemn.com

www.bluffcountry.com

springgrovemnheritagecenter.org


Check out other media:

http://www.midwestweekends.com/plan_a_trip/history_heritage/ethnic_towns/spring_grove.html


Content 2012© by Syttende Mai, Inc. • Site Design by Bluff Country Web Services www.bluffcountrywebservices.com  Contact sgherald@bluffcountrynews.com or call 1-888-498-3868

May 18 - 19 - 20, 2012

 

Spring Grove Sons of Norway Lodge 364-1 members host Norwegian food sampling, as well as ethnic craft demonstrations and historical displays in the front room of the Legion Post on Main Street from 9 am to 12 noon and 3-4:30 pm (after the parade), Saturday only.

Thanks to everyone that attended our 2011 celebration and we are on the home stretch of planning for the 2012 Syttende Mai.
Start making plans now to join us May 18, 19, 20!


Your whole family will enjoy delicious food, traditional Norwegian crafts, a grand parade, musical entertainment, motor sporting events and of course, the El Caminos on Saturday night in the Fest Building.


Events begin the weekend before with our Queen’s Banquet and the crowning of Miss Syttende Mai and her court, as well as the Little Miss and her court.


Check back again in March for more updates and details!

You’ll never know what you will see while in town for Syttende Mai. Pictured here are member of the local Sons of Norway Lodge in a historic Viking Ship float built by local resident, Ivan Dahle.

The Spring Grove Lions host Dad’s Belgians Waffles each year during Syttende Mai. Stop by the Fest Building between 7:30 and 10 a.m. to get a plate of the best waffles around!


F.F.E. will again host children’s games/events at the lower Fest Building Grounds on Saturday only.

Thanks to the Spring Grove Herald newspaper for all of the photos throughout this website.