Syttende Mai

THE Irish have their St. Patrick's Day, the Italians have their Columbus Day, and the Swedes have their Svenskarnas' Dag. As a loyal American of Norwegian descent, my other Fourth of July is the 17th of May--Syttende Mai. This Norwegian Independence Day is like all other aforementioned days in that it denotes deliverance and freedom, with the resultant discovery of a new world. And Syttende Mai also is the day I celebrate my freedom from alcohol.