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Norway celebrates its Constitution on May 17th and national costumes come out of storage as the patriotic inhabitants commemorate the independence of the Scandinavian country.

Small children delight the eye as they parade through the city streets in their national dress, or 'bunad', which has also reportedly become more popular among adult patriots in recent years.

Many, too, pin national flags to their lapels.

But the kind of formal ceremonial Brits might expect of a day which remembers a political event is only part of the story - Norway's May 17th celebrations are tinged with abandon.

School leavers celebrate the end of 13 years in education with tricks and pranks familiar to lovers of 'muck-up day', bringing the chaos that plagues school buildings out onto the streets.

In a spirit not unlike the summer madness of the Notting Hill carnival, students deck up buses and vans in colourful banners and put themselves on show, ghetto blasters blaring.

Meanwhile, intrigued spectators can sample excellent cuisine while they watch ice cream is a treat for children, while adults feed on Norwegian sausage and sour cream porridge, an unmissable local delicacy.

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