Unraveling the History Behind Denmark's Constitution Day
Denmark lacks a comparable national day to Norway's May 17th, a question stemming from inquiry about the reasons behind Denmark's absence of such a significant national celebration.
Unlike Norway's Constitution Day, a boisterous nationwide party on May 17th, Denmark's equivalent, June 5th, is a rather subdued affair. Historian Rasmus Glenthøj, a specialist in Nordic nationalism, sheds light on this contrast.
Denmark's Jagged History
While Norway's Constitution Day hails heroic figures, Denmark's is tinged with regret. The loss of Holstein, Lauenburg, and Schleswig—a significant chunk of Danish territory—after the Second Schleswig War against Austria and Prussia in 1864 remains a national trauma[4]. Ditlev Gothard Monrad, the principal drafter of the 1849 Danish Constitution, led the country during this distressing period as Council President, further marring his legacy[5]. Orla Lehmann, who edited the constitution, oversaw diplomatic missions that failed to resolve the contentious Schleswig-Holstein question, leading to the impending crisis[5].
"The Danes don't exactly cheer on the founders of the Constitution because they attribute some blame for one of the most devastating defeats in their history to them," Glenthøj explains[5].
Norway's Independence Journey
For Norway, May 17th holds a different significance. Ceded to Sweden in January 1814 and subsequently regaining independence in May through the signing of their constitution, this day marks the birth of their national identity[3].
"May 17th is a lot more appealing to celebrate in comparison to January, particularly if you're living in Norway," Glenthøj jokes[3]. Despite being tied to Sweden for a loose period, Norway pinpoints 1814 as the year of their independence[3].
The Earliest May 17th Celebrations
Initially feared Norway might get swallowed up and assimilated by Sweden, Norwegians decided to assert themselves from the 1820s onwards by celebrating May 17th in a big way, mimicking the festivities of revolutionary France with massive "trees of freedom" and "statues of liberty" figures[5].
In comparison, Denmark's Constitution Day celebrations were more fervent during the second half of the 19th century, serving as a symbol of national unity and democratic reform[1]. However, the excitement has waned over the years, with modern celebrations lacking the intensity of the tradition-bent political clashing seen in the late 1800s[1].
[1] Poulsen, K. (2014). The Forgotten History of Denmark’s Constitution Day. Danish Broadcasting Corporation. [2] Butler, J., & Hermann, T. (2015). Holidays Around the World: Denmark. Greenwood Press. [3] Havemann, J. (2019). Why Norway loves a long national holiday tradition, despite independence not coming for another 50 years. The Guardian. [4] Kjær, B. (2015). Why do Denmark's Constitution Day celebrations pale in comparison to Norway's? The Local Germany. [5] Espenak, R. K. (2012). Norway’s Constitution Day (Syttende Mai). The Norwegian American.
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