What do you wear if you’re the featured person in a parade? Amy Lindland had worn a formal gown in March when she won the title of Greater New York Miss Norway. But was that appropriate for the Constitution Day procession? Amy was due to be chauffeured through the streets of Brooklyn on May 19. The theme for the day was “tradition,” which gave the Cornwall resident an idea.
Amy’s grandparents had grown up in Norway. Her father’s older brothers had been born there. When the family came to the United States, Amy’s grandmother (Dagny Lindland) had brought her bunad – a colorful full-length folk dress, which she kept packed in a trunk for decades.
Amy had often begged to see the dress, but her grandmother had always declined. Perhaps it was inconvenient to take it out of storage. Now, the new Miss Norway had another idea. Why not wear the dress for the traditional parade?
Her grandmother had reservations. The dress was very old and not in the best condition. But Amy, soon to be a college senior, had some unexpected allies. Family members who were visiting from Norway thought their young American relative should greet the public in the costume her ancestors wore. Eventually, the visitors prevailed.
It rained on the day of the parade – just as it did in 2008 when Amy’s sister (Sarah Lindland) was Miss Norway. The organizers scuttled the plans to have Amy ride in a convertible. But that didn’t keep her from waving to the spectators on the sidewalks. Amy’s vehicle had a sunroof. She opened it, stood up, and held an umbrella in one hand while she waved with the other.
There were other festivities during the day – including a “Little Miss Norway” pageant, where every participant was a winner. In a newspaper interview, Amy said that she really enjoyed playing with the kids who entered the contest.
As her prize, Amy gets a trip to Norway this summer. She will be gone from Aug. 14 to Aug. 28. Amy also got the bunad she wore for the parade. “The fact that you wanted to wear it,” her grandmother said, “meant a lot to me.”