![[Strek]](../prikk.gif){kind=small}
In 1938 the second world war was about to erupt. Ingeborg saw the warning signs and knew the time ahead would be dangerous. She worried that unless will to freedom and value consciousness was deeply rooted in the mindsets of the people, Norway might not survive as a nation.
Ingeborg believed in teaching the values of freedom and democracy through litterature and art, and that children would be more receptive to the "lessons".
This was the philosophy behind Ingeborg's first celebration of the birthday of the poet Henrik Wergeland (1808-1845). He is regarded as one of Norway's greatest poets and his work was a great contribution to the process that led to an independent Norwegian state in 1905. Now Ingeborg made the anniversary of his birthday, June 17th, into a great children's festival, with songs, processions and poetry recitals.
All children were given flower wreaths for the procession. Pre-school children too small to walk were driven in wagons. Everyone was taught songs. "I supppose I've never sung this much in my life previously" Ingeborg later remarked.
Photo from 1938: Ingeborg handing out flower wreaths
The festival was a great success. Even economically it almost broke even. Ingeborg meant that serving people was more important than earning money, so the financial fruits of her work were always meagre.
