Norway: Paper Lotus Flowers Brought the Beauty of Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance to Norway’s National Day

The 17th of May is Norway’s National Day. In contrast to many other nations, Norwegians celebrate National Day with a children’s parade instead of a military parade. Almost all primary schools participate in the parade with their respective banners, and the Royal Family stand on their castle's balcony to greet the children on parade and the rest of the public. The streets of Oslo are full of people dressed in traditional festive garments or other festive clothes.

Still something was different this year, which made a special scene in the main street of Oslo. Some female Falun Dafa practitioners brought with them a basket full of handmade paper lotus flowers. These colourful and beautiful lotus flowers where handed out to children together with a greeting card. The card explained that the lotus flower symbolises holiness, purity, beauty and peace and all the lotus flowers bring with them a message to the people: "The world needs Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance".

The card also told a little story: A twelve year old girl who lives in the neighbouring country of Sweden is named Elvelina. She is a young Falun Gong practitioner. This Easter she had a dream that if she makes one thousand lotus flowers, the persecution of Falun Gong in China will stop. After she woke up, she told her friend about the dream and they immediately started to make paper lotus flowers. Their flowers are not like normal paper lotus flowers, as they seem alive. Some of them are decorated with silver, while others have gold straw in the middle. All the flowers bring with them the little girls’ good wishes.

Many children received the lotus flowers with surprised and happy expressions; some asked to get one extra to give to their sister, brother or friend. Many people, old and young, women and men, Norwegians and people from abroad, asked for and received a lotus flower.

A young Chinese girl also received a lotus flower and a card. She said thanks and moved on but she suddenly turned around looking surprised and asked the practitioner, "Do you know where this came from?" The practitioner explained that it was from people who practise Falun Gong. Since the Chinese girl looked so shocked, the practitioner told her in Chinese "I am a Falun Gong practitioner" and that she has practised Falun Gong for six years. The Chinese girl asked several times if this was true. She was so surprised to find out that Falun Gong is also practised in Norway.

The 1000 lotus flowers, which were made by Swedish and Norwegian practitioners, quickly disappeared. These lotus flowers, along with a good wish, spread around the streets of Oslo creating a beautiful and decorative sight on Norwegian National Day.

Originally published in Norwegian at http://no.clearharmony.net/articles/200505/526.html