Syttende Mai

It’s the 17th of May (Syttende Mai), National Day or Constitution Day for Norwegians. It was in 1814 that Norway broke away from Denmark after being under Danish control for several hundred years. On May 17th of that year, Norway’s constitution was established. Nevermind that Norway was part of a kingdom with Sweden until 1905, this is the day that they celebrate their independence. 

 

To celebrate the Seventeenth of May, I’m posting the words to the Norwegian national anthem, Ja, vi elsker dette landet. There’s a link at the end so you can hear it, too.

I have no idea what that one line in the English means and Google was no help. So I’ll ask you: What is a “saga night” and how does it send “dreams to our earth”? 

In Norwegian:

Ja, vi elsker dette landet,
Som det stiger frem,
Furet, værbitt, over vannet,
Med de tusen hjem.
Elsker, elsker det og tenker
På vår far og mor
Og den saganatt som senker
Drømme på vår jord,
Og den saganatt som senker
Senker drømme på vår jord,

Norske mann i hus og hytte,
Takk din store Gud!
Landet ville han beskytte
Skjønt det mørkt så ut.
Alt hva fedrene har kjempet,
Mødrene har grett,
Har den Herre stille lempet,
Så vi vant vår rett,
Har den Herre stille lempet,
Så vi vant, vi vant vår rett.

Ja, vi elsker dette landet,
Som det stiger frem,
Furet, værbitt over vannet,
Med de tusen hjem!
Og som fedres kamp har hevet
Det fra nød til seier
Også vi når det blir krevet,
For dets fred slår leir,
Også vi når det blir krevet,
For dets fred, dets fred slår leir.

 In English:

Yes, we love this country
as it rises forth,
rugged, weathered, above the sea,
with those thousand homes.
Loving, loving it and thinking
about our father and mother
and the saga night that sends
dreams to our earth.
And the saga night that sends,
sends dreams to our earth.

Norseman, in house and cabin,
Thank your great God!
It was His will to protect the country
Although things looked dark.
While fathers fought
And mothers cried,
Our Lord quietly opened the way
So that we won our right.
Our Lord quietly opened the way
So that we won our rights.

Yes, we love this country
as it rises forth,
rugged and weathered, above the sea,
With those thousand homes.
And as our fathers’ struggle has raised it
from distress to victory,
even we, when it is demanded,
for its peace will encamp
even we, when it is demanded,
for its peace will encamp.

—Listen. 

Comments

[Brandon]

I'm pretty sure "Saga night" is an idiomatic expression that indicates the preserved history and legacy of the past. I suppose it's a bit like talking about "days of yore" -- it means the past, but the phrase has a much more romantic and poetic association to it than just talking about the past, because of its association with the Viking sagas. I've no real idea about the "dreams to our earth," but perhaps the idea of the line is something like "our rich history, which gives our land vision."

My family is only Norwegian on my mother's father's father's side, but it's remarkable how these things survive. I can remember on special occasions sometimes reciting the old Bordbønn or table grace. I suppose I'll have to bring it out today!

[rebecca]

perhaps the idea of the line is something like "our rich history, which gives our land vision."

I bet that's pretty close and it makes sense.