President of the Storting Olemic Thommessen made a speech before the Christmas tree lights were switched on. Photo: Storting/Sverre Chr. Jarild.

See photos of the Christmas tree lights being switched on at Flickr. The photos may be used freely if credited to the Storting.
 
The ceremony marked the formal rounding off of the Bicentenary of the Norwegian Constitution.
 
“The great jubilee year of 2014 is drawing to a close. For many of us this has been a hugely eventful year. The time has now come to look back at the year just gone, but also to look ahead,” said President of the Storting Olemic Thommessen in his speech.
 
The President of the Storting said that the bicentenary year of 2014 has been one long party, a wonderful event. The year has also fostered greater understanding of and knowledge about what is so important to us: our fundamental values and, not least, the importance of the Constitution itself.
 
After the speech the Christmas tree lights were switched on and Christmas carols were sung by the Sølvguttene boys’ choir, conducted by Frikk Heide-Steen.
 

The photographic exhibition “History of the Storting 1964–2014”

Immediately after the occasion at Eidsvolls plass, Ida Børresen, Secretary General of the Storting, conducted the official opening of the photographic exhibition “History of the Storting 1964–2014”, which is on display on the hoardings around Wessels plass.
 
The Secretary General told those gathered that the Storting’s administration started renovating Prinsens gate 26 this summer. The work to build a new post and delivery centre under Wessels plass will also commence soon. Though essential, the work is also challenging for the surrounding area. As some small compensation for the inconvenience caused, the hoardings that have been set up to enclose the building site – which will be there for the next three years – will be utilized to please passers-by in different ways. The current photographic exhibition is the first such measure aimed at sprucing up the boards.
 

Book about the history of the Storting

The photos on display depict important events in the history of the Storting and the development of democracy in Norway. They all derive from the brand new book about the history of the Storting since 1964. This book was commissioned by the Storting’s Presidium in 2011.
 
The Sølvguttene boys’ choir rounded off the opening of the exhibition by singing Christmas carols.
 

A Storting especially decorated for Christmas

Finally on a packed afternoon, the general public was given the opportunity to go on guided tours of a Storting that has been especially decorated for Christmas. The project to adorn the Storting for Christmas has seen the Storting collaborate with design students from the Oslo National Academy of the Arts.
 
This was also the last chance for members of the general public to view the Constitution of 17th May 1814, which has been exhibited in the Historical Hall as part of the exhibition "1814 The Year of Miracles".