May the Norse be with you

Published on Monday 19 May 2003 01:00

VIKING invaders took to the streets of Edinburgh’s city centre during a colourful procession to celebrate Norwegian National Day.

Watching shoppers were treated to the biggest celebrations outside Norway with various events being held over the weekend, cementing Edinburgh’s links with the Scandinavian country.

The 1000-strong crowd marched along part of Princes Street, which was closed for half an hour, waving flags just after 1pm on Saturday.

Earlier in the day around 350 people had risen at dawn for the traditional Students’ Flag Ceremony on the summit of Arthur’s Seat.

Fuelled by the Norwegian tipple aquavit, they met around 7am to climb to the summit and raise their country’s flag.

It comes ahead of next week’s prestigious International Festival of the Sea in Leith, where Norway has been invited as the guest of honour - and responded by sending over a mini-Viking fleet including two tall ships.

It strengthens a lasting friendship between Scotland and Norway, which has seen Bergen supplying the Christmas tree on The Mound each year for half a century.