«Do you have anything like Carnaval in Norway?»
«Uhmm, well, kind of. The closest thing I can think of is something we call “russ”. It’s…. The year you graduate from school, you get these pants – red or blue is the most common, that you can decorate and write things on, make it personal. And you get a hat, with a….. tail. You can also choose to buy a car to decorate with a group of friends that are also  russ. And you give it a name, a theme and you’re using that as your party crib/home during the celebration.»

I looked at her to make sure she was following me.

«And then you run around drinking, partying and do funny and stupid things in these pants for like three weeks. You get to fasten a small item to the tail of your hat for every little thing you do – every school has a list of stuff to do. Once I was walking a dead fish like a dog through the streets of my hometown, and used fresh bread as shoes! It’s like you can use these pants as an excuse to do whatever you want to, and you ARE kind of “excused”, because it’s such a long Norwegian tradition. Being an ass in red or blue pants for three weeks in May.»
«????????»
«And the last day of this celebration called “russ”, we are walking in a parade, drinking, giving away personal cards with funny quotes on to the children, shooting water on them and celebrate the National Day with the rest of Norway. Really! It’s the time of your life!»
«…!!!!!!!!!!!????????»

ph_priv, 2009 – me in my russ clothes

Have you ever tried to explain the concept ‘RUSS’ to a foreigner? It’s the funniest thing. Russ 2013 – I hope you had the most amazing time, now life’s about to begin! Make the best of it! 

Now tell me – how was your russ celebration? Mine was… I was a part of a van called ‘Playvan’ (hahaha), drinking, doing cute innocent ‘russeknuter’ (the things you do to fasten items to the hat tail) and had the time of my life with my best friends and my (ex)boyfriend. AND I was the editor of the Russ Newspaper! Ye! Now – your turn, tell me about yours! :)

ph_priv, the Norwegian National Day/Constitution Day, Fredrikstad, Norway

Gratulerer med dagen, superhær! Å se Norge gå rødt, hvitt og blått har for meg aldri vært noe mer enn søttende mai. En dag å kle seg pent på, en dag å spise is og pølser, en dag med familie, en veldig fin dag – men det stoppet alltid der. I år var så anderledes. Så følelsesladd!

Da jeg stod der på fortauskanten med mamma og pappa ved min hjerteside, venstre, og så at 17. maitoget marsjerte forbi…. Følelsene mine sitter som regel langt, langt inne, men akkurat da hadde jeg lyst til å gråte. Hele byen hadde pyntet seg, bunader og norske flagg overalt, sang, musikk og barn som holder hender. Med hånden på hjertet slet jeg med å holde masken. Jeg ble så rørt! Det vi har er VAKKERT, dere! Det er ingen land i verden som har noe som ligner på det vi har sammen 17. mai. Jeg måtte få briller med styrke ‘verdensreise’ for å se det.

På denne dagen går hele vårt lille land pyntet og flotte ut i gatene og synger, smiler og koser seg – hvert eneste år. For å feire landet vårt, for å gratulere hverandre med dagen. For å feire at vi i 1814 fikk en grunnlov, og en konge av et uavhengig Norge. Så mange år etter går vi der i gatene fremdeles – like stolte av landet vårt. Like glade. Like fine. Jeg stod og tenkte på hva herrene på Eidsvoll i 1814 ville ha følt i dag, hvis de fikk komme tilbake og se hvordan det de utrettet den gang fremdeles lever videre i oss. Og i alle som kommer etter oss. Hvordan det fremdeles blir feiret og satt pris på, hvordan et samlet Norge tilsynelatende glemmer alle bekymringer, debatter og samfunnsproblemer og vier denne ene dagen til å sette pris på det vi har. Jeg stod og tenkte på hvordan de små barna som i dag veiver flagget ikke aner hvor stort det de veiver det for egentlig er, og hvor målløs det er til å bli av – den stemningen som oppstår blant oss på grunnlovsdagen. Jeg stod og tenkte på hvor himla fint Norge er, og hvor tydelig det kommer frem på en dag som dette. I dag er Norge på sitt beste, og jeg er så utrolig glad i det! Jeg kan reise jorden rundt sju ganger til, men hjem vil alltid være der hjertet mitt er. I min lille diamant i nord.

Hipp hipp!

Congratulations, super troop! Today we’ll see Norway go red, white and blue again. 17th of May has to me never been anything else than that day. A day to dress nicely, a day to eat loads of ice cream and hotdogs, a day to spend with my family, such a nice day – but nothing more. This year was different. So full of emotions!

When I stood there in the street, watching the parade march by…. Usually my feelings are locked up deep inside, but today I felt like crying. The whole town was dressed up, traditional costumes and Norwegian flags everywhere, singing, marching bands and children holding hands. To be honest – I was struggling with my mask. I was so touched! What we have over here is beautiful. I needed to travel the world to see that. 

On this day all of Norway are going out in the streets, looking so good and traditional, singing, smiling, having a good time – year after year. To celebrate our Country, to salute each other. To celebrate that in 1814 we got our own Constitution and a King to rule an (finally!) Independent Norway. So many years later – we’re still out there, in the street. Just as proud as we were. Just as happy, just as beautiful. I was standing there in the street today, thinking about what the Gentlemen from 1814 would have thought if they saw us today. If they could se how we still are celebrating, how their achievement still lives in us and will continue to live in us forever. How a gathered Norway apparently forget about all our worries, debates and trouble and how we make this day be ALL about appreciating what we have. I was standing there thinking about the children, how they’re waiving their flags with no clue how much that really means. How speechless the atmosphere of 17th May can make you. I was standing there thinking about how amazing Norway is, and how clear that is in a day like this. Today Norway is at its very best, and I love it so much here! I can travel the world seven more times, but home will always be where my heart is. By my little diamond up North.