– There has been a lot of talk that we are historyless and that no one cares about 17 May anymore. But for us it’s not about that, says a ready-to-travel Tanja Lund-Lyngmo. Together with a group of friends totaling 22 people big and small, she drops bunad and blueberry roulade on 17 May this year. Instead, it will be Greece, sunscreen and pool drinks. Altaværingen is one of many Norwegians who choose to use a number of days off around National Day for a slightly longer trip abroad. – It is not just that we are leaving from 17 May, but also that we saw the possibility of two weeks of sun and warmth, without having to take the children out of school, says the mother of two. Set up extra flights to the South Both SAS and Norwegian report exceptionally high traffic this year. Norwegian has actually set up several extra routes, as a result of demand. In particular, the company sees that trips to Spain, Italy and France are tempting. – Due to high demand, we have chosen to set up extra departures to Barcelona, Palma and Malaga to cover demand during this period, says Eline Hyggen Skari, senior communications advisor at Norwegian. Eline Hyggen Skari, senior communications advisor at Norwegian. Photo: Thomas Brun NTB / Communications She says that they see an increase in orders from 12 May and the following days with returns on Sunday 21 May. – This is probably about the fact that there are many closed days off this year around May 17, says Skari. She says that it is not only trips out of the country, but also domestic ones that have increased this year. Must cancel school event For Alta, Apollo has set up direct flights to Greece just before 17 May. This means that winter-weary Finnmarkings get from dirty piles of snow to the sun and warmth of the South in five hours. Kristina Thomassen Abrahamsen lives in the same district as Lund-Lyngmo. She thinks it’s broken that so many go away on 17 May. – I will not blame anyone, but for our part it has meant that there are not enough people left for us to organize May 17 at the school this year, she says. Kristina Thomassen Abrahamsen is afraid that the national day will be diluted if more and more people go abroad on 17 May. Photo: Hanne Larsen / news She thinks it’s sad for herself, but also for her 7-year-old daughter and many other children. – I think perhaps we take the red days a little too lightly. Not least 17 May, which is Children’s Day, she says. Lund-Lyngmo has children at the same school. This year, their class was to be responsible for the event. She thinks it’s sad that everything has been cancelled. – But I don’t think this will become a trend. It’s not every year that you get so many days off around May 17, she says. – Depriving the children of their unity The head of the May 17 committee in Alta, May-Liss Thomassen, confirms that two primary schools in Alta are without events this year, due to people going away. She understands that, in practical terms, it can be tempting to go away when the calendar offers many red days. But: – 17 May is the children’s big party day. To take away from them the opportunity to go by train in order to prioritize a trip to the South which they may not even know what it entails, I think that is a great shame. – Do you think that the adults think more about their own needs here? – The adults may think that the children need a trip to the South. But I think they need to be with schoolmates, go on the train and feel the togetherness that exists on that day, she says. Leader of the May 17 committee in Alta, May-Liss Thomassen. Photo: Privat Thomassen also has nothing left for those who go to the mountains. – No, there is a time for everything. Going to the mountains can perhaps be done when the children have grown up, says the 17 May leader. – Live here and now Tanja Lund-Lyngmo believes she must be able to make the choices she believes are best for her family, without being made to feel guilty. – We cannot let other people’s opinions dictate what we should do with our lives, she says. Tanja Lund-Lyngmo believes that 17 May remains a national holiday even though she is taking her family to the South this year. Photo: Hanne Larsen / news Lund-Lyngmo is sure that 17 May will be a holiday, even if the family chooses to leave the homeland. – I love 17 May and am moved to tears when the royal family comes out on the balcony. We want to watch TV online and take in the atmosphere, even if we are away, says the mother of two.
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Norwegians fly away from the May 17 celebrations in Norway – news Troms and Finnmark
