May 17th Drawings: Creative Ideas for Norway's National Day

May 17th is a day filled with joy, traditions and celebration of the Norwegian Constitution. For children (and adults!) it is a perfect opportunity to unleash their creativity with fun and colorful drawings. Whether you want to Draw for May 17th and create art to hang at home, give as a gift, or just have fun with your family, May 17th drawings are an activity suitable for all ages.

In this blog post we give you inspiration, tips and ideas on how to create amazing May 17th drawings. Draw yourself for May 17th!

Why drawings are a great activity on May 17th

Drawing is an activity that is both engaging and entertaining. On May 17th, it can be a great way to include children in the celebration, while also learning about Norwegian symbols, traditions and history. Draw yourself for May 17th and include the youngest in the traditions. It is also a great way to calm down after a busy day of children's parades, ice cream and hot dogs.

Ideas for May 17th drawings

1. The Norwegian flag

The Norwegian flag is the symbol of the national day, and it's easy to draw your own for May 17th! Use red, white and blue to create a classic Norwegian flag. This can be a great introduction for the little ones who want to learn about the colors and design.

Tip: Draw the flag on a large sheet of paper and let the children decorate it with glitter, stickers or small flowers for an extra festive touch.

2. Traditional costumes

Traditional costumes are an important part of the May 17th tradition. Let the children try drawing people dressed in different traditional costumes from different parts of Norway. You can also print out templates for the children to color. Draw yourself for May 17th and bring out the beautiful details in the traditional costumes.

Tip: Use pictures of real bunads as inspiration, and feel free to talk about the different regions' special patterns and colors.

3. Trains and instruments

The children's parade is perhaps the most iconic feature of May 17th. Draw a long train of happy children holding flags, playing instruments and shouting hooray! This gives children the opportunity to use their imagination and create a lively motif.

4. Flowers and nature

May is the month when nature blooms, and many people associate May 17th with beautiful flowers such as lily of the valley and white vetch. Draw your own May 17th designs to make wreaths, bouquets or flower meadows extra special, which can be combined with other festive elements.

5. Royal symbols

For slightly older children, it can be exciting to draw royal symbols such as the castle, crown or lion from the national coat of arms. This also provides an opportunity to learn more about Norway's monarchy and history.

Materials you need

To create great May 17 drawings, you don't need a lot of equipment. Here are some suggestions:

White sheets of paper or drawing pads
Colored pencils, markers, or watercolor paints
Glitter glue or stickers for decoration
Scissors and glue if you want to make collages

Make it even more fun!

Create an exhibition

Hang the drawings at home or in the daycare center to create a small “art exhibition.” Invite family and friends to look at the artwork.

Competition

Organize a drawing competition among the children with the theme “Norway” or “May 17th.” Prizes could be small flags, ice cream, or other nice surprises.

Digital sharing

Take pictures of the drawings and share them on social media with hashtags like #17mai, #Norway, # tegninger.no or #Children'sDrawing. Maybe you will inspire others to try the same, and who knows, maybe more people will draw themselves on May 17th?