Penguin promoted to Major General

First knighted, then promoted to Brigadier, and now elevated to the rank of Two Star General, that's Major General Sir Nils Olav III, Baron of Bouvet Island and official mascot of His Majesty the King of Norway's Guard.

We like such somewhat quirky traditions, and this one dates back to 1972. Back then, a King Penguin in the zoo of the Scottish capital Edinburgh was adopted by the Norwegians and named after the then Norwegian King Olav and Major Nils Egelien, who organized the action. The Norwegian King's Guard Music Band regularly visited their mascot when performing at the music spectacle Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Norwegian soldiers also send the animal fish and Christmas cards every year.

Everyone needs a mascot, and we think the choice of a penguin is not bad at all.