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forms first, and often behind self made banners for each form or even individual class. Nearby kindergartens may also have been invited to join in. As the parade passes, bystanders often join in behind the official parade, and follow the parade back to the school. Depending on the community, the parade may make stops at particular sites along the route. In Oslo the parade stops at the Storting (the Norwegian Parliament building).
During the parade a marching band will play and the children will sing lyrics about the celebration of the National Day. The parade concludes with people standing and singing the national anthem "Ja, vi elsker dette landet" and the royal anthem "Kongesangen".
In addition to flags, people typically wear red, white and blue ribbons. Although a long-standing tradition, it has lately become more popular for men, women, and children to wear traditional outfits, called bunads. The children also make a lot of noise shouting "hoorah!", singing, blowing whistles and shaking rattles.
In addition to children's parades, there are parades for the public, where every citizen is welcome to join in. These are led by marching bands and often local boy scouts and girl guides, local choirs, etc. This takes place in the early morning or in the afternoon, before or after the school's parade.
All parades begin or end with speeches. Both grown-ups and older children are invited to speak. After the parades, there are games for the children, and often a lot of ice cream, pop, sweets and pølse (hotdogs) are eaten.
Children of Norwegian heritage march with their parents in parades in many parts of America too. Our lodge marches each year in the Syttende Mai parade in Park Ridge, Illinois, where we also celebrate this special day. *SN
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