trettiseks - 17. MAI.
I know I can't reach you, Harald, but this is mostly for my own comfort, and... Maybe somehow you'll know I've been missing--The real me--for a little over half a year. What's changed since I've been gone? Is Iceland getting any better, or is he still as sick as he was the last time you saw him? It's silly to be thinking of him on this day, but he's my brother. You understand. As much as I wish everyone was here--You, your family, and my children--I'm glad you're not. This place is hell. Westport, for one. I'll spare you the details but some of us were stuck there with no food or water for a week. It normally wouldn't be too big of a deal for us nations, but we've been turned human. We're just like our citizens. [There's a heavy pause as he fumbles with what to say next.] Denmark is here. All of us Nordic nations are... But we seem to be from different times, if that makes any sense. Half of Europe is here too. Even Ancient Rome, Germania and Prussia. If this town can pull us from different times, why not bring the dead back? If you could hear this, you'd probably be surprised that I'm actually talking this much about something so trivial, but I guess over time I've changed. Death is a funny thing when you just wake up the next day in your own bed, safe and sound. [Another pause--] Oh. I'm neighbors with The Netherlands... Plus everyone in this town is married, including me. Three kids now, but my wife is still a drone. If you don't quite follow me, just think of... Hm. What can I use for an example? It's a little scary, but they're always happy. Harald, it scares me.
I envy you right now, you know. It's selfish, but I want to see my people--My land, even just for five seconds. Forget fancy parades... I just want to see home again. I miss everything.
Glad Syttende Mai. Keep those Russ kids out of trouble and don't stress yourself out, okay? ...Miss you.
[He hangs up the phone and simply sits at the kitchen table in his pajamas, chin in his hand, staring at the telephone as if he's expecting his boss to call back.]
[ooc; Syttende Mai, or May 17th, is a nation-wide holiday celebrated every year in Norway. It's also known as Grunnlovsdagen, or The Constitution Day. The Constitution was signed at Eidsvoll in 1814, declaring Norway to be independent. Celebration began among students and others, though Norway, at that time, was under Swedish rule following the Convention of Moss in August of the same year, and for years the King of Sweden was reluctant to allow celebrations. For a few years in the 1820s, Carl Johan actually forbade it. What a jerk, right? His attitude changed in 1829 after an incident resulted in such a commotion that the King actually had to allow it. Until 1933, nobbody had dared hold a public address on the day. In 1933, the celebration was initiated by the monument of Christian Krogh, who was known to have stopped hte King from gaining too much personal power. It was held by Henrik Wergeland, witnessed and accounted for by a Swedish spy, sent by the king himself. In 1864, the day was more established, and the first children's parade was launched in Christiania, consisting of only boys. It was only in 1899 that girls were allowed to join the parade for the first time.
WWII ended just 9 days from the constitution day that year, May 8th, 1945, when the German forces occupying Norway surrendered. Though the Liberation Day is an official flag day in Norway, it's not an official holiday and isn't broadlycelebrated. Instead, a new, broader meaning has been added to the celebration. The day originally focused on the Norwegian constitution, but after 1905, the focus had also been directed towards the royal family.
Henrik Wergeland made May 17th a celebratory day for the children rather than a day of patrotic pride. It demonstrates that the children, the country's future, are the patriotic pride, if they follow Wergelan's thoughts. Flags and music dominate the day, and there are a few military paraes. To commemorate his contribution, the Russ in Oslo put an oversized hat on his statue near the Norwegian parliament, and the Jewish community places a wreath on his grave in the morning as a tribute.]
I envy you right now, you know. It's selfish, but I want to see my people--My land, even just for five seconds. Forget fancy parades... I just want to see home again. I miss everything.
Glad Syttende Mai. Keep those Russ kids out of trouble and don't stress yourself out, okay? ...Miss you.
[He hangs up the phone and simply sits at the kitchen table in his pajamas, chin in his hand, staring at the telephone as if he's expecting his boss to call back.]
[ooc; Syttende Mai, or May 17th, is a nation-wide holiday celebrated every year in Norway. It's also known as Grunnlovsdagen, or The Constitution Day. The Constitution was signed at Eidsvoll in 1814, declaring Norway to be independent. Celebration began among students and others, though Norway, at that time, was under Swedish rule following the Convention of Moss in August of the same year, and for years the King of Sweden was reluctant to allow celebrations. For a few years in the 1820s, Carl Johan actually forbade it. What a jerk, right? His attitude changed in 1829 after an incident resulted in such a commotion that the King actually had to allow it. Until 1933, nobbody had dared hold a public address on the day. In 1933, the celebration was initiated by the monument of Christian Krogh, who was known to have stopped hte King from gaining too much personal power. It was held by Henrik Wergeland, witnessed and accounted for by a Swedish spy, sent by the king himself. In 1864, the day was more established, and the first children's parade was launched in Christiania, consisting of only boys. It was only in 1899 that girls were allowed to join the parade for the first time.
WWII ended just 9 days from the constitution day that year, May 8th, 1945, when the German forces occupying Norway surrendered. Though the Liberation Day is an official flag day in Norway, it's not an official holiday and isn't broadlycelebrated. Instead, a new, broader meaning has been added to the celebration. The day originally focused on the Norwegian constitution, but after 1905, the focus had also been directed towards the royal family.
Henrik Wergeland made May 17th a celebratory day for the children rather than a day of patrotic pride. It demonstrates that the children, the country's future, are the patriotic pride, if they follow Wergelan's thoughts. Flags and music dominate the day, and there are a few military paraes. To commemorate his contribution, the Russ in Oslo put an oversized hat on his statue near the Norwegian parliament, and the Jewish community places a wreath on his grave in the morning as a tribute.]