Rhododendron are now also in full bloom. The photos below are from the cemetery today; the ones below from around the housing estate where I live, 2-3 days ago.
The last Sunday in May is Mother's Day in Sweden.
The tradition was imported here from America, and introduced here in 1919. The somewhat later date for it here is said to be because they wanted spring to be a bit further along, so that there would be more flowers about.
In 1920, a leaflet was printed and distributed, giving some suggestions how to celebrate:
1. If you have a flagpole in your yard, the Swedish flag should be raised in the morning.2. Mother should be greeted with a song by the children in the morning.3. While still in bed, she should be served coffee and buns, prepared by the children, and given flowers and a present.4. If possible, Mother should not have to do any housework that day. The children should make the beds, sweep the floors, cook the meals, and wash up.5. In the afternoon or evening the family should hold a small celebration in which Father also participates.6. Children not living at home should send Mother a letter or telegram or postcard, especially made for the day, and sent in time for Mother's Day.(From a Swedish museum website, translated by me.)
From my own childhood, in the 1950/60's, I recall it as a day when it was my Dad who tried to perform (some of) those tasks rather than Mum (who was a stay-at-home mum and wife ever since I was born, just over a year into their marriage). This primarily meant that on Mother's Day, she was served burned toast in bed in the morning, even though she did not like eating in bed. Later on, she managed to persuade us (dad) to at least let her eat her burned toast at the kitchen table... As for the rest of the day, I suspect she was probably allowed (for all our sakes) to do the cooking herself; but forced to let dad (or later on, me and my brother) do the washing up.
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Not having children of my own, I haven't really kept up with the development of the Mother's Day traditions in later years! I usually burn my own toast all year round - and like my mum, I don't like eating in bed, but prefer to have breakfast at the kitchen table. (Lunch, on the other hand, I often eat in front of the TV.)
Do you have any special Mother's Day traditions?
No traditions here, my mum always said she didn't want to be recognised for just one day, we should "recognise" her every day, but not with gifts, just by helping with general housework and doing chores without being told to. I carried that to my own home, but when the kids were little their Dad would help with breakfast in bed.
ReplyDeleteRiver, that sounds like a sensible approach by your mother :)
DeleteWe have no traditions. My mother refused to let us acknowledge Mother's Day because it was so commercial, and contrived. I followed suit with my own children. I think their own children have a traditional Mother's Day attitude, though.
ReplyDeleteJanice, I think in my family it was my dad who insisted, while my mum would rather have skipped it... I think she kind of regarded the kitchen as her domain, I can't recall her ever being very keen on anyone "helping" her.
DeleteYour sentence "I usually burn my own toast all year round" made me laugh out loud. Your poor Mum! Good job she at least managed to make your Dad see sense in that she did the cooking, and didn't "have to" eat in bed anymore :-D
ReplyDeleteMy Mum never wanted us to do anything special for Mother's Day. She said "You either love me all year round or not at all", and when in kindergarden my sister and I did not want to participate in making something for our Mum in preparation for the day, the teacher didn't believe us and had my Mum come in to talk to her. She confirmed that we had been telling the truth and the she really didn't want any of the stuff crafted with more or less enthusiasm just because the calendar said so.
Meike, fortunately modern toasters aren't as prone as some early ones to actually burn the toast... ;-) My memories of seriously burned toast are probably primarily connected with an old one in my p. grandmother's kitchen which had to be watched carefully as it was not automatic. (Possibly my parents also had one like that when I was very little, but of that I'm not sure.)
DeleteI may also have made drawings for Mother's day but I made lots of drawings anyway so that doesn't stand out in my memory.