Syttende Mai Español

Syttende Mai (Norwegian for 17th of May) is Norwegian National Day or Constitution Day, which commemorates the day in 1814 that the Norwegian constitution was signed. Of course Fuengirola celebrates along with the local Norwegian population. Any excuse for a parade.

Since the holiday fell on Sunday this year, the mostly native Spanish marching band was available in full-force. Tynan and Elena’s 12-year-old daughter, Paula, plays oboe in the band (and in a classical orchestra). So, we couldn’t possibly miss the parade.

Klikk på et bilde for å forstørre… which I hope means ‘click any image to enlarge.’  (If it doesn’t, unnskyld — I beg your pardon.)

A GREAT PHOTO OP OF SAN GERALDO LOST TO A GUST OF WIND.
HE’S BEHIND THE FLAG.
DESIGN VARIES DEPENDING ON REGION OF NORWAY.
RIGHT OUT OF CENTRAL CASTING?
SO NICE TO SEE THE SPANISH FLAG, TOO.
THEY MARCHED BY GRADE FROM THE NORWEGIAN SCHOOL.
THESE 6TH-GRADERS LOOKED LIKE TROUBLE (OR FUN).
I FELT LIKE I WAS IN BERMUDA.
A GIFTED DRUMMER.
PERHAPS SOME NORWEGIAN IN HER GENES.
ADORABLE.
NORWAY MEETS HOLLYWOOD?
THEY CHANTED, “HIP HIP HOORAH!”
ON SAX AT FRONT, THE BAND’S LEADER.
CAN YOU SEE THE MUSIC?
BAND MEMBERS RANGE IN AGE FROM UNDER 10 TO OVER 70.
PAULA (FOREGROUND) AND FRIENDS.

The band is brilliant and my videos are mediocre, so I’ll end with the first “traditional Norwegian folk song” I ever heard.

San Geraldo’s cousin Inger sang movingly to us during our first visit to Norway. When she finished, we asked what it meant. She explained that it’s the story of a fisherman who rows out to find another fisherman in his favourite spot. So, he hits the other fisherman over the head with an oar and knocks him into the water. He then contentedly settles into fishing. Sweet.

Ed rodde meg ut (I rowed out).

Author: Moving with Mitchell

From Brooklyn, New York; to North Massapequa; back to Brooklyn; Brockport, New York; back to Brooklyn... To Boston, Massachusetts, where I met Jerry... To Marina del Rey, California; Washington, DC; New Haven and Guilford, Connecticut; San Diego, San Francisco, Palm Springs, and Santa Barbara, California; Las Vegas, Nevada; Irvine, California; Sevilla, Spain. And Fuengirola, Málaga..

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