Olsok
Encyclopedia
Olsok is now the Norwegian name for 29 July, traditionally the date of the death of King Olaf II Haraldsson of Norway in the Battle of Stiklestad
, east of Nidaros
(Trondheim
), Norway
, in 1030. Olaf was canonised by Bishop Grimkell
in Nidaros on 3 August 1031, and is remembered as Rex perpetuus Norvegiae
, the Eternal King of Norway. Rather than his attempts to finally (and forcefully) convert the country to Christianity
, Olaf's martyrdom at Stiklestad appears to have contributed decisively to establishing the Church in all parts of the country.
Until the Lutheran reformation
in the Nordic countries
in the 16th century, Olsok was a major church feast in these countries. The late 19th and the early 20th century saw a renewed interest in Olsok, particularly in Norway. In the Faroe Islands
29 July - Ólavsøka
("Olaf's Vigil") - is still the national day, as it was when the islands were part of Norway in the Middle Ages
. In Denmark
29 July is called Olai ("Olaf's Day"), in Sweden
Olofsmässa ("Olaf's Mass") and in Finland
Pyhän Olavin Päivä ("St. Olaf's Day"). The Roman Catholic Church
in Norway still celebrates Olsok as a major feast all over the country, while the Lutheran Church of Norway
celebrates the day in Nidaros Cathedral
and in some other churches. Since the 900th anniversary of Stiklestad in 1930, 29 July is an official flag day in Norway.
In Savonlinna
, Finland
, 29 July is the biggest festival day of the summer, as Olaf was the patron saint of the castle Olavinlinna
("Olof's Castle").
Battle of Stiklestad
The Battle of Stiklestad in 1030 is one of the most famous battles in the history of Norway. In this battle, King Olaf II of Norway was killed. He was later canonized...
, east of Nidaros
Nidaros
Nidaros or Niðarós was during the Middle Ages, the old name of Trondheim, Norway . Until the Reformation, Nidaros remained the centre of the spiritual life of the country...
(Trondheim
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
), Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, in 1030. Olaf was canonised by Bishop Grimkell
Grimketel
-Life:Little is known of Grimketel's background. There was some speculation that he was taken over to Norway by Olav Haraldsson in 1017 to evangilize the country. After Cnut defeated and killed Olav, Grimkel, was asked to go to Trondheim and officially declare Olav Haraldsson a saint.Cnut is said...
in Nidaros on 3 August 1031, and is remembered as Rex perpetuus Norvegiae
Rex Perpetuus Norvegiae
Rex Perpetuus Norvegiae , i.e. Norway's Eternal King) is an in the 12th century appearing term for Olaf the Holy.-Background:In written sources, the term Perpetuus rex Norvegiæ appears only in Historia Norvegiæ from the second part of the 12th century.The 1163 Succession Law stated that all kings...
, the Eternal King of Norway. Rather than his attempts to finally (and forcefully) convert the country to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, Olaf's martyrdom at Stiklestad appears to have contributed decisively to establishing the Church in all parts of the country.
Until the Lutheran reformation
Reformation
- Movements :* Protestant Reformation, an attempt by Martin Luther to reform the Roman Catholic Church that resulted in a schism, and grew into a wider movement...
in the Nordic countries
Nordic countries
The Nordic countries make up a region in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and their associated territories, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland...
in the 16th century, Olsok was a major church feast in these countries. The late 19th and the early 20th century saw a renewed interest in Olsok, particularly in Norway. In the Faroe Islands
Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands are an island group situated between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately halfway between Scotland and Iceland. The Faroe Islands are a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, along with Denmark proper and Greenland...
29 July - Ólavsøka
Ólavsøka
Ólavsøka is a national holiday of the Faroe Islands, celebrated on July 29. It is the day when Løgting, the Faroese Parliament, opens its session....
("Olaf's Vigil") - is still the national day, as it was when the islands were part of Norway in the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
. In Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
29 July is called Olai ("Olaf's Day"), in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
Olofsmässa ("Olaf's Mass") and in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
Pyhän Olavin Päivä ("St. Olaf's Day"). The Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
in Norway still celebrates Olsok as a major feast all over the country, while the Lutheran Church of Norway
Church of Norway
The Church of Norway is the state church of Norway, established after the Lutheran reformation in Denmark-Norway in 1536-1537 broke the ties to the Holy See. The church confesses the Lutheran Christian faith...
celebrates the day in Nidaros Cathedral
Nidaros Cathedral
Nidaros Cathedral is a Church of Norway cathedral located in the city of Trondheim in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. It was the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nidaros from its establishment in 1152 until its abolition in 1537. Since the Reformation, it has been the cathedral of the...
and in some other churches. Since the 900th anniversary of Stiklestad in 1930, 29 July is an official flag day in Norway.
In Savonlinna
Savonlinna
Savonlinna is a town and a municipality of inhabitants in the southeast of Finland, in the heart of the Saimaa lake region. The Finnish name of the town means "Castle of Savonia" and the Swedish name means "Newcastle".- History :...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, 29 July is the biggest festival day of the summer, as Olaf was the patron saint of the castle Olavinlinna
Olavinlinna
Olavinlinna is a 15th century three-tower castle located in Savonlinna, Finland. It is the northernmost medieval stone fortress still standing.- Construction :...
("Olof's Castle").