Constitution Day speech template (Norway)
Published 10 October 2026 · Date checked on 5 October 2026 · Written by the Cue Card Converter team at EventProgrammer, event production professionals
Norway's Constitution Day, known as Syttende mai, is celebrated on 17 May. It marks the Constitution adopted at Eidsvoll in 1814, one of the oldest written constitutions still in force. The day is famous for children's parades, with school bands and flags, in towns and villages across the country, while the royal family greets the parade from the Royal Palace balcony in Oslo. Many people wear a bunad, the traditional costume, and cries of 'Hurra' are heard everywhere.
- Date
- May 17
- Next dates
- Monday 17 May 2027
Wednesday 17 May 2028
Thursday 17 May 2029 - Country
- Norway
- Tone
- Celebratory
- Typical events
- School children's parades, Norwegian embassies and clubs abroad, festive breakfasts, town squares and community gatherings on 17 May.
- Length
- 157 spoken words · about 1 min at 130 words a minute · 4 cue cards
The Constitution Day speech, ready as cue cards
A complete host script in 4 cards, about 1 minutes of speaking. Open it in the editor to add your names, change the card size or highlights, and print.
- GRATULERER MED DAGEN1 / 4
Good morning, and gratulerer med dagen. I'm {Your name}, and on behalf of {Organisation} welcome to our Syttende mai celebration. I can see bunads, flags, ribbons and some very excited children, which means we are in exactly the right place. - A CONSTITUTION FROM EIDSVOLL2 / 4
In 1814, representatives gathered at Eidsvoll and gave Norway its Constitution. It is still in force today, one of the oldest in the world. Norwegians celebrate it above all with children, who parade with flags and school bands through towns and villages across the country. - THREE CHEERS3 / 4
Before our parade sets off, let's practise. When I call out 'Hurra for syttende mai', you answer 'Hurra'. Three times, and loud enough to be heard in Oslo.
[THREE CHEERS – HURRA]
Wonderful. I think they heard us. - THE PARADE SETS OFF4 / 4
Now please welcome {Parade leader or band}, who will lead us out. Children at the front, flags held high, and everyone else close behind.
[BAND STRIKES UP – PARADE BEGINS]
Enjoy the day, save room for ice cream, and once more: gratulerer med dagen.
Red is used only for names, titles, organisations, dates, times and section headings. Replace the words in {curly brackets} with your own details; lines in [SQUARE BRACKETS] are stage directions and are not read aloud.
How to adapt it
- Gratulerer med dagen, literally 'congratulations on the day', is the standard greeting on 17 May. Teach it to non-Norwegian guests at the start so they can join in.
- Keep speeches short: the children's parade is the heart of the day, and young participants will not wait long. Plan the cheers and the parade early in the programme.
- The national anthem, Ja, vi elsker, is sung at many 17 May events. Print the first verse, with a translation, for international guests.
- Many guests wear a bunad, but smart clothes are just as welcome. Say so in the invitation, so that guests without a traditional costume feel at ease.
Print and rehearse
“Edit and print these cards” opens the script in the free cue card maker, where you can choose A5, 4 × 6 or 3 × 5 inch cards, print several per sheet with cut lines or export PDF, PowerPoint and Word, and rehearse full screen in practice mode. To write your own programme around it, see how to write an MC script and the run of show template.
Sources
Date and background checked on 5 October 2026 against: Speech for Constitution Day Reception - Norway in the UN. Customs vary between organisations and regions; always follow the official programme of your event.