The children's parade, the use of national flags and school banners are key features in the celebration of Norwegian Constitution Day. This article provides a historical analysis of the origin of the school banner and its emergence and development into a living and popular tradition from the late-nineteenth century. This article shows how the emergence of the school banner connects to the establishment of compulsory schooling and the school as an active site for nation building in the Norwegian struggle for independence. Today, the school banner has transformed to promote the schools' identity and self-representation. The article adds new insight into the history of schooling in Norway and offers an additional perspective to the research on national symbols.