Margrethe Munthes
In downtown Oslo, sandwiched between the Majorstua and St. Hanshaugen neighborhoods, you’ll find Margrethe Munthes Plass, a small plaza named for one of Oslo’s former residents.
Margrethe Munthe (1860–1931) grew up in Elverum as the ninth child in a country doctor’s family with 14 kids. She accomplished many things that were unexpected of women in her day: she moved to the city to earn a living as an elementary school teacher, earned an advanced degree and studied abroad in England. She never married, and became known for authoring many books, children’s poems and songs.
Some of Munthe’s songs have a message of morality, as she preferred teaching through song and play in her classroom lessons. Some examples are “Jeg skriker ikke jeg,” “No, I Don’t Scream,” and “Lua Av,” “Hat Off,” which starts “Nei, nei gutt, dette må bli slutt!” “No, no boy, this has got to stop!” Because of this, Munthe’s legacy is sometimes associated with a strict behavioral code. One of Munthe’s more playful songs is “Geiterams,” a tune that describes and imitates the energetic goats on a mountain pasture.
Arguably her most famous song is “Fødselsdagen,” (The Birthday) also known as “Hurra for deg“ (Hooray for you)—a fun and lively tune with interactive motions that became Norway’s birthday song of choice.
Munthe first wrote “Hurra for deg,” set to a Norwegian folk tune, in 1907. The birthday guests describe their actions as they perform them. Well-wishers surround the birthday boy or girl and march, bow, curtsey, nod and spin around before ending with a resounding Gratulere! / Happy Birthday! While there are two verses, typically only one verse is sung.
Sing along in Norwegian and learn the moves from members of the Royal Family as they celebrate the King and Queen turning 80 in 2017.
Fødselsdagen / Hurra for Deg
Hurra for deg som fyller ditt år!
Ja, deg vil vi gratulere!
Alle i ring omkring deg vi står,
og se, nå vil vi marsjere.
Bukke, nikke, neie, snu oss omkring,
danse for deg med
hopp og sprett og spring.
Ønske deg av hjertet
alle gode ting!
Og si meg så, hva vil du mere?
Gratulere!
Hooray for your birthday!
Yes, we congratulate you!
We stand all around you in a ring,
And look, now we will march.
Bow, nod, curtsey, turn around,
Dance for you with
jumps and bounces and leaps.
Wishing you from the bottom of my heart
all good things!
So tell me, what more do you want?
Happy Birthday!
Høyt våre flagg vi svinger. Hurra!
Ja, nå vil vi riktig feste!
Dagen er din, og dagen er bra,
men du er den aller beste!
Se deg om i ringen, hvem du vil ta!
Dans en liten dans
med den du helst vil ha!
Vi vil alle sammen svinge oss så glad:
En av oss skal bli den neste!
Til å feste!
We wave our flags up high. Hooray!
Yes, now we really want to celebrate!
The day is yours, and the day is great,
but you are the very best!
Look around the ring, who you want to choose,
Dance a little dance
with who you want to,
We’ll all turn around so joyfully:
And one of us will be the next!
To celebrate!