The Unindicted Co-Conspirator sang a song to me in a liltingly beautiful language.  She spent her formative years in Norway, and was singing the Norwegian national anthem, "Yes, we love this country." It's Syttende Mai, the biggest patriotic holiday in Norway.  It's Norwegian Constitution Day.



Note that - it's Constitution Day, not Norwegian Independence Day.  

On May 17th, 1814, the Norwegian Constitution was signed in Eidsvoll, traditional site of the court and the assembly of free men.  The Norse word for assembly is thing.  Eidsvoll was a thingstead and had been so since the 11th century.  

The Constitution declared that Norway was an independent nation.  In fact, Norway did not become a free and independent nation until 1905.

But it is the Constitution that merits a national holiday.

The Norwegian Constitution is the oldest single-document constitution in Europe and the second-oldest still in continuous force in the world. It is among the most liberal constitutions.

In 1380, after being decimated by the Black Death, Norway was absorbed in union with Denmark.  After Napoleon's defeat at Leipsig, the crown prince of Denmark-Norway started an independence movement, culminating in the constitution.  In response, Sweden invaded and took control, but allowed Norwegians to keep their constitution so long as they recognized the Swedish King as sovereign.

Two days ago, the Norwegian Parliament unanimously moved to amend this constitution.  All 169 members, including the Christian Democratic Party and the Conservative Party, voted to separate the nation permanently from the state church.  The Church of Norway was formed after the Lutheran Reformation of 1536.  Traditionally, every citizen of Norway is baptized into the Church of Norway at birth and remains a member for life.

However, only 20 percent of Norwegians make religion a large part of their lives, and only two percent actually attend church regularly.  72 percent do not believe in a personal god.  

Under the new amendment, the government will no longer have a minister of churches, and the state will no longer be responsible for the appointment of bishops and deans.  All religions and philosophies will be treated equally.

Ironically, the oldest constitution in continuous force is our own.  It was written expressly to prevent the establishment of a state church.  Perhaps someday we'll respect our constitution as much as the Norwegians respect theirs.