Ólavsøka is the National holiday of the Faroe Islands. It is the day when the Faroese Parliament Løgting opens its session, July 29th. Motto: None Official language Faroese Capital Tórshavn Monarch Margrethe II Prime Minister Jóannes Eidesgaard Area  - Total  - % water World ranking: 189th 1,399 km² — Population  - Total ( 2004)  - Density World ranking: 211th 48,228 33. ... The Løgting, or Løgtingið is the parliament of the Faroe Islands, a self ruling dependency of Denmark. ... July 29 is the 210th day (211th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 155 days remaining. ...

The literal meaning is "St.Olaf's Wake" or vigilia sancti Olavi in Latin, from his death at Stiklestad in 1030, see Olsok. But the Løgting is certainly older than that. Like several other Faroese holidays, the vøka begins the evening before. So Ólavsøka always starts July 28. Olav II Haraldsson ( 995 – 1030), king from 1015–1028, called during his lifetime the Fat and afterwards known as Saint Olaf, was born in the year in which Olaf Tryggvesson came to Norway. ... The Battle of Stiklestad in 1030 is one of the most famous battles in the history of Norway. ... Events Battle of Stiklestad ensures the Christianization of Norway. ... Olsok, literally St. ... July 28 is the 209th day (210th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 156 days remaining. ...

Ólavsøka is the day of the year, when very many Faroese crowd in the capital Tórshavn. The National rowing competitions have their final run there, which is one of the highlights in Faroese sports. In addition, there are art exhibitions and folk music everywhere, performing the Faroese chaindance. The GB coxless pair of Toby Garbett & Rick Dunn at Henley Royal Regatta 2004. ...

The salute for Ólavøka in Faroese is Góða Ólavsøku! Faroese (singular and plural) refer to people living on the Faroe Islands. ...

External links

• Ólavsøkan 2004 (http://www.hjollum.com/jari/myndir/olaj2004) (private image gallery)
• Faroestamps.fo - Saint Olaf & Ólavsøka (http://www.faroestamps.fo/?side=234a79f949e119a695046a00f954a75d)