Gratulerer Med Dagen! (Which means congratulations for the day or any special day, including birthdays, in Norwegian.) for today is Norwegian Independence Day.

17th of May, (Syttende Mai) is actually the day Norway declared independence from Sweden in 1814 but independence didn’t really come until 1905 when the union was dissolved and Prince Carl of Denmark, became king of Norway with the Norwegian name of Haakon VII, following a referendum to restore the monarchy.

Why do I mention this? I’m half Norwegian! God Dag!