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Date Published: 09/05/2023
Nordic community in Alfaz del Pi celebrates Norwegian Liberation Day
The town in the Marina Baixa region of Alicante province is officially home to 2,500 Norwegians
Alfaz del Pi welcomed the Norwegian Ambassador to the town on Monday May 8 as the Nordic community came together to celebrate Norway's Liberation Day.
The country celebrates its long-awaited release from Nazi German occupation in 1945 on May 8 every year, an occasion that also doubles as Norway's Veterans' Day.
Closer to home, ambassador Nils Haugstveit opened a day of commemorative events in Alfaz de Pi, official home to 2,500 Norwegians although it's estimated as many as 8,000 spend long periods of time in the town every year.
The Mayor, Vicente Arques, highlighted the "strong ties that unite Norway with Alfaz", and the success of the municipality's Norwegian Club which has more than 1,000 members and is about to celebrate its 53rd birthday.
Alfaz also boasts the only Frivilling Volunteer Centre located outside of Norway as well as a network of Norwegian shops and businesses and two schools that have been open for more than 50 years.
"This is a very deep-rooted and beloved community here in Alfaz," added the mayor.
Liberation Day activities were held at the Cultural Centre, with representation from the youngest and oldest Norwegian populations, including students from local Scandinavian schools and the Peder Myhren Church pastor.
The latter explained the importance of this key date in the Norwegian calendar.
When World War II broke out in 1939, Norway declared itself neutral, but on April 9, 1940, German forces attacked the country. King Haakon and the government at the time refused to surrender, but within two months the Germans had conquered the entire country, and from then until liberation in 1945 Norway was under German occupation.
After the speeches, the film 'Kampen om Narvik' (The Battle over Narvik) was screened in its original version with subtitles, where Hitler's first defeat was narrated.
Later in the evening, veterans met in the neighbouring town of Albir and there were readings at the Norwegian Church.
Also of interest: First spring sightings of Portugese Man o War off Alicante coast
Images: Ayuntamiento de Alfaz del Pi
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