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| Hello, and welcome to the Culture Class- Holidays in Norway Series at NorwegianClass101.com. In this series, we’re exploring the traditions behind Norwegian holidays and observances. I’m Michael, and you're listening to Season 1, Lesson 20 - Mothers Day. In Norwegian, it’s called morsdag. |
| Norwegians celebrate Mother’s Day very similarly to the rest of the world. In this lesson we will discuss specifically how Norwegians celebrate Mother’s Day. |
| Now, before we get into more detail, do you know the answer to this question- |
| What is the most common thing for Norwegians to do for their mothers on Mother’s Day? |
| If you don't already know, you’ll find out a bit later. Keep listening. |
| Mother’s Day in Norway always falls on the second Sunday in February of each year. It was celebrated for the first time in Bergen on February 9, 1919. Back then, the day was primarily celebrated in the Methodist Church, or metodistkirke. Historically, Mother’s Day was held by religious organizations, but in more recent years, the day has become a family day. |
| This day was originally celebrated in May in many other countries, but two women, Dorothea Schjoldager and Karen Platou, successfully petitioned to have it changed to February. They probably had it changed to February instead of in May, because Norway had too many holidays in May to begin with. |
| Mother’s Day, like Valentine’s Day, has become a very commercial holiday. Several stores promote the day with gifts, cakes, and flowers designed for people to give to their mothers, and due to its commercial success, it is clear that the holiday has become ingrained in Norwegian society. Several weeks before the day itself, commercial posters, or kommersielle plakater, are posted in stores, and several TV and radio stations advertise gift-giving for Mother’s Day. |
| Though it is recognized as fairly “commercialized”, the day is still appreciated by most people. Many people naturally take the day as an opportunity to treat their moms and give them a little extra attention, often in the form of gifts and flowers. In elementary schools, an hour or two is often set aside to make cards, or kort, and gifts, or gaver, for children to give to their moms. |
| Now it's time to answer our quiz question- |
| What is the most common thing for Norwegians to do for their mothers on Mother’s Day? |
| In Norway, the most common thing for people to do is to wake up their moms and surprise them with breakfast in bed. In Norwegian that is frokost på senga. This often includes tasty bread rolls and freshly brewed coffee. A gift and flowers are then presented after breakfast. |
| So listeners, what did you think of this lesson? Did you learn anything interesting? |
| Do you celebrate Mother’s Day in your home country? |
| Leave us your comments at NorwegianClass101.com, and we'll see you in the next lesson. |
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