Ólavsøka

The Ólavsøka [ ɔulavs.øka ] since the 13th century, the national holiday of the Faroe Islands on July 28, and especially on July 29. It takes its name from the Norwegian king Olav Haraldsson, the Saints ( † July 29, 1030 ). It is both a Christian holiday, the opening of parliament, sports event, carnival and festival.

This day is also known as St. Olaf's Day or Olavsfest In German. Commonly is the Danish expression Olav or Olaifest. Ólavsøka is the Faroese form of the Latin vigilia sancti Olavi (Latin vigilia = Faroese voka and means guard ). Only in the Faroe Islands the Olavsfest is still an integral part of the calendar.

The Ólavsøka will be officially opened on 28 July 14 local time clock and sounds on July 29 at midnight with a group singing of folk songs from. Since the Ólavsøka is located in the high season, it is also a special tourist attraction. Hotels are usually fully booked half a year before.

Rowing Regatta

The rowing competitions in Tórshavn are in the afternoon on July 28. This race marks the end of the rowing season for the national championship. The Port of Tórshavn is lined with crowds, and the boats are fighting for the prestige of its location.

Opening of Parliament and Church Covenant

The Ólavsøka is always the day of the grand opening of the Faroese Parliament, the Løgtings on 29 July with the previous procession of political, administrative and clerical dignitaries Tórshavn Cathedral. The Løgmaður holds the State of the Nation, in which he recites the political visions for the coming parliamentary year the opening of parliament.

The Evangelical Lutheran Faroese People's Church holds on 29 July after the joint church attendance in the bishopric its annual Convention, which appear every pastor in the country.

Carnival

Tórshavn is the Ólavsøka scene of the largest folk festival of the Faroes. From everywhere people are flocking to the capital. Since 2003 there is also Ólavsøka celebrations of Auslandsfäringern in Copenhagen, who do not manage to go to Tórshavn. Otherwise, Tórshavn is the only place where the Ólavsøka is celebrated.

Everywhere the Faroese flag is up, and many people carry the Faroese costume. There will Faroese chain dance to old ballads instead.

In parallel, there is the Ólavsøkufestival with contemporary popular music Faroese artist. There is also an annual exhibition Faroese Art.

Is the end of the festivities at midnight on 29 July each year when thousands of people gather on the square in Tórshavn and the adjacent streets to sing together old and new folk songs for an hour. For this, there is an extra song books.

A salute to Ólavsøka on Faroese is Goda Ólavsøku! ( Good Ólavsøka! )

Importance of St. Olav for Faroese

Thus, although the Ólavsøka is the most important day in the calendar Faroese, there is no road and no place is named after the Holy Olav. That was never personally in the islands. He was there in his lifetime even downright unpopular because of the high tax burden, which he aufbürdete the Faroese. The legend says ( jokingly ) that this is the reason why there are no forests in the Faroe Islands.