Mother's Day

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Lesson Transcript

Culture Class: Holidays in Denmark, Lesson 16 - Mother's Day

Hello and welcome to the Culture Class: Holidays in Denmark Series at DanishClass101.com.

In this series, we’re exploring the traditions behind Danish holidays and observances. I’m Michael, and you're listening to Season 1, Lesson 16, Mother's Day. In Danish, it’s called mors dag.

Some people are convinced that Mother's Day is an excuse for florists to rake in loads of cash.

Although it's true the second Sunday in May is one of the most profitable for local florist shops, there's a lot more to this tradition in Denmark than simply the flower industry.

In this lesson, you'll learn how Danes celebrate Mother's Day.

Now, before we go into more detail, do you know the answer to this question:

Why was Mother's Day unpopular in the ’60s and ’70s?

If you don't already know, you’ll find out a bit later. Keep listening.

In Denmark, it’s traditional for florists to remind people about Mother's Day through television commercials, usually in the week leading up to the actual day. Many people are thus easily tempted to order a "bouquet of flowers", or blomsterbuket, well in advance. Or you will at least feel pressured to do so!

You can generally buy some kind of gift specifically dedicated to Mother's Day at most florist shops. Besides pre-made bouquets, you can often buy flower decorations, chocolate boxes, cards, and various "gift baskets", or gavekurve.

Of course, while everyone doesn't celebrate Mother's Day in exactly the same way, it's still a nice excuse for families to get together. Some families might start the day by eating "brunch", or brunch, together.

Since 1969, the porcelain factory Bing &Grøndahl has produced plaques especially for Mother's Day. Over time, the plaques have become an entire series, which some shoppers collect. The designs on the plaques are fittingly an animal mother with cubs painted in a characteristic cobalt blue color. So for some, this year's "Mother's Day plaque", or morsdagsplatte, is just as steeped in tradition as flowers or chocolates.

Like a number of other Danish traditions, Mother's Day is inherited from the United States. However, it was a war veteran who brought the tradition to Denmark in 1929 after having served as a soldier in the U.S. Army.

Now it's time to answer our quiz question:

Why was Mother's Day unpopular in the ’60s and ’70s?

Mother's Day was unpopular in the 60s and 70s because of women's rebellion against the ideal of the contemporary nuclear family, where only the mother took care of the children and the home.