Flags on holidays and special days in Norway

Norway does not fly flags only on the official flag days. The flag and the pennant are part of many holidays and family celebrations, from 17 May and Christmas to birthdays and weddings. The days on which the state flies flags are set in the flag regulation. The rest is custom, and it is more generous in Norway than in many other countries.

Public holidays, days of celebration and flag days

The public holidays are listed in section 2 of the Act on public holidays and holiday peace. 1 and 17 May are days of celebration (høgtidsdager) under a separate act from 1947. The flag days are listed in section 4 of the flag regulation, and all dates for 2026 and 2027 are in the guide to flag days.

17 May

Constitution Day is the great flag day in Norway. On state buildings, the flag is raised at 8 a.m. and lowered at sunset, but no later than 9 p.m. Children’s parades, youth corps and school leavers march with flags, and small hand flags are part of the day. According to Store norske leksikon, it is common custom that the flag does not drag on the ground, even when used as a hand flag or decoration. Many raise the flag on their own pole early in the morning.

Easter, Whitsun and Christmas

Easter Sunday, Whit Sunday and Christmas Day are official flag days. Easter and Whitsun move from year to year, and the dates are calculated in the table in the guide to flag days. Many also fly the flag on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, although these are not flag days. In winter the days are short: from November to February, the flag on state buildings is raised at 9 a.m., and in Nordland, Troms and Finnmark at 10 a.m., with lowering at 3 p.m.

Historical and national days

• 8 May, Liberation Day: marks the liberation in 1945.
• 7 June, dissolution of the union: the Storting resolved to dissolve the union with Sweden on 7 June 1905.
• 29 July, Olsok: in memory of Olav the Holy, who according to Store norske leksikon fell at Stiklestad on 29 July 1030.
• 6 February, Sámi National Day: the national day of the Sámi people, both an official Norwegian and a Sámi flag day.

Private occasions

Flying the flag for private occasions is a widespread Norwegian custom: birthdays, weddings, silver and golden wedding anniversaries, christenings, confirmations, graduations and homecomings. Section 4 of the flag regulation says that the state flag is not raised for occasions of a purely private nature, but that applies only to state bodies. According to Lovdata, the Flag Act and the flag regulation contain no rules for private individuals.

Many leave the pennant up on ordinary days and raise the flag on such days. When the flag is raised for a private occasion, many follow the normal flag times. The pennant and the different flags are covered in the guide to flag types.

When the sun goes down

Under the flag regulation, the flag is lowered at sunset, but no later than 9 p.m. In midsummer, the sun in Southern Norway sets after 10 p.m., and Northern Norway has the midnight sun, so the 9 p.m. limit is what counts for state buildings. Lighting and flags after sunset are covered in the guide to flag lighting, and the fixed times in the guide to flag rules.