Saint Olaf's Day
July 29 · Level 4 · #1439 of 2238
Saint Olaf's Day honours Olaf II, the Norwegian king revered as Norway's patron saint. Known there as Olsok, the occasion brings together religious remembrance and a living interest in the country's medieval past.
How it is celebrated: church services and pilgrimages to Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim accompany concerts and historical performances. In the Faroe Islands, the related Ólavsøka celebrations feature rowing races, processions and traditional dancing.
The feast falls on the anniversary of Olaf's death at the Battle of Stiklestad in 1030. A king defeated in battle went on to be venerated far beyond his own kingdom.