The National Day of Norway events are certainly ideal if you are keen to get under the skin of the local culture on a holiday to the country – and with so many Oslo hostels located in great hotspots all around the city, a break to the capital need not be too expensive.

On May 17th in 1814, Norway moved away from Danish rule and formed an alliance with Sweden which lasted for almost a century.

To mark this momentous occasion in the country’s history, the nation comes alive with dancing, singing, drinking and dancing on May 17th – but the best events and festivals are definitely in the capital city of Oslo, which is also the largest metropolis in Norway.

The national day celebrations are particularly noted for the children’s parades common across the country. Most of the marches are dominated by the younger generation, who walk proudly through the streets holding their national flag.

Traditional Norwegian dress is also an interesting feature you might be interested to see. Outfits worn for the National Day of Norway are often intricately sewn with lace and beading and are usually brightly coloured.

The Oslo parade is definitely the best one for you to see on a break to Norway, as the country’s royal family often wave to the crowds below as the procession passes under the balcony of the palace.

Culture vultures will find more than enough to keep them occupied once the parade is over. Oslo is home to some world-class museums, including the National Gallery, the Munch Museum, the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design and the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Norway is a natural beauty that hasn’t allowed modern construction to overtake the wildlife and outdoor environment. There are many parks, lakes and trails that you can experience. The summers are very mild so if you have a major heat wave in your country during June through August you might want to cool off and enjoy it here. The memories will last a lifetime.

If you love winter sports then you’ll love Norway. There is plenty of snow here to get your ski fix. The slopes are wonderful and scenic. The 1952 Winter Olympics were held in Oslo, Norway. Many winter sports competitions are held here each year. If so is what you want this you won’t be disappointed as snowfall usually occurs during the months of November to April each year.

As Norway is not as crowded as many of the other European countries you won’t feel overwhelmed by all the other tourists. You can actually see the sights and not feel stressed. You can take a scenic ferry ride to see the natural wildlife and outdoors. It is close enough to take a day trip by ferry to Germany and Denmark if you miss your population fix.

Water is a natural beauty here. You can go scuba diving or river rafting. You can even take a tour of the fjords of Norway. What exactly is a fjord you might ask? It is a piece of land that was shaped into being by the abrasion of glaciers. They will have a diamond or triangular cut into the bedrock of the land. This is something that you won’t generally see elsewhere.

For those that want to experience something a little different. You can come see the Northern Lights also known as the Aurora Borealis. This is the wonderful display of oxygen and nitrogen emissions in the sky which can be viewed in colors of blue, red, green or brown. As Norway is in the northern hemisphere you can have the experience of seeing the actual magnetic poles in effect. You might go to light shows that are artificially created but this is a natural beauty that is not manmade.

If you are traveling with your family you might want to take your kids to see the reindeer. Every child wants to know where Santa gets reindeer for his sleigh. You can visit them and watch their eyes fill with wonder and amazement. It will bring the stories to life for them. They might actually wonder if Santa might make an appearance.