A 'Mors Dag Manual'

Mother's Day; in Sweden celebrated the last Sunday of May, quite possibly to include more flowers with celebrations. 

  • “Mor lilla mor, vem är väl som du? Ingen i hela världen.” (Mother, sweet mother, who’s like you? Nobody in the entire world). The first words in a song written by Astrid Gullstrand and published in her 1912 collection of poems titled “På stjärnestig” (On a starry path). The poem was set to music by Ellen Heijkorn in 1918, and printed in 1921. In 1929 it was accepted as song number 242 in Svensk söndagsskolsångbok (Swedish Sunday school songbook) under the title “Mors dag” (Mother’s Day). Sunday, May 26, is Mother’s Day in Sweden.

  • Mother’s Day, “Mors Dag”, is celebrated in Sweden on Sunday, May 26. The reason it is celebrated on the last Sunday in May (and not the second as in the U.S) probably has to do with more fresh flowers being available at that time in Sweden.
    It was Cecilia Bååth-Holmberg who in 1919 took the initiative to have a “Mors Dag” in Sweden, in her proposal she wrote: “More than ever do we need to gather around something that warms and shines for us all. A worthiness of life that, in spite of the changes of all other things, still stands firm and unchanged without being threadbare or diminished in power or beauty: Our mother’s care and love.” However, a year later it became clear that there was a need to expand on how, exactly, mom was to be celebrated. The committee for “Mors Dag” in Uppsala gave out the brochure “Mors dag” with “instructions how to celebrate” it. An image from this brochure is currently circulating on Facebook.

  • Cecilia Bååth-Holmberg (1857-1920), the author who took the initiative to have Mother's Day celebrated in Sweden. Mors Dag was celebrated in Sweden the first time in 1920, and always on the last Sunday in May (probably because of greater access to fresh flowers).

  • Here is how you celebrate:

  • How to greet mom on "Mors Dag". From a 1920 brochure.

  • 1.The Swedish flag is to be hoisted on the flagpole at home.

  • 2. Mother is to be greeted in the morning with song by her children.

  • 3. She is to be given good coffee and bread, preferably made by the children. She is to be honored with flowers and a small gift.

  • 4. Rest and freedom from all housework for mother as much as possible. 5. Her children will help around the house as much as they can by sweeping, cooking, and doing the dishes.

  • 6. At afternoon coffee or in the evening, a small ceremony is to be held, during which father participates. Something beautiful is to be read, and a heartfelt ‘thank you’ is to be said to Mother, the unifying force of the home.

  • 7. Children who are not at home are to greet Mother with a letter or telegram.