Ólavsøka (St Olaf's Day )

St Olaf's day or Ólavsøka (meaning Saint Olaf's wake) is festival celebrated on the day when the Faroes parliament opens its session, the 29^th of July. This is called Løgting.

Several Faroese holidays follow a tradition of a vøka which is an opening ceremo

ny held the night before.

On this day, the Faroese gather in the capital of Tórshavn to watch or participate in the national rowing competitions and enjoy art exhibitions, music and the “chain-dance” performance.

Festivities begin days before the event, with a musical concert on the 27^th of July. This concert usually goes on till the wee hours of the morning.The festivities then start with an early morning procession with the important people of the island followed by horses and a band.

Every procession needs a brass band.

Do you see what I mean by music being everywhere on this island?

Then on the 29^th of July the parliament opens again after the summer holiday and the festivities begin again like 'ye old times' there is singing and music, the whole city celebrates.

2009 was the 100^th anniversary of the municipality of Torshavn ,and in celebration a famous Faroese composer Sunnleif Rasmussen composed and directed the olavsoka cantata that depicted the history of Faroese music till now. There was a ch

oir of about 160 people from all over the country.

Here is a link of the “chain-dance”.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cARjYCI-XME&feature=related

It’s beautiful to see so much love and happiness in one place.

People united and happy, living happy lives.

But everything has a flip side....