Majblomma
The majblomma (May flower) is a small paper flower that is sold in Sweden and other countries in April and May every year to raise awareness of child poverty . It changes color every year and is not to be confused with the red carnation (main carnation ). The sale and distribution of the sales proceeds and donations have been organized in Sweden since 1907 by an association ( Majblommans riksförbund ) that was founded for this purpose and has its headquarters in Gothenburg .
The idea of the may flower spread from Sweden to many countries, where it sometimes leads a niche existence or has been forgotten again. The first sales took place in 1908 in Finland , 1909 in Denmark and Norway , 1910 in Belgium and the Netherlands , 1911 in Germany , France , Italy , Austria , Russia and Switzerland , 1912 in England and Estonia , 1913 in Algeria , 1916 in Cuba , 1922 in the USA and 1932 in India .
history
The initiative to sell the May flower came from the Swede Beda Hallberg, who had previously volunteered to help poorer people. The paper flower was also intended to inspire people who did not belong to the upper class for the charity work. Despite initial skepticism and resistance, Hallberg's concept worked. The sale of the first 100,000 paper flowers for 10 ore each in the Gothenburg area was a success; the proceeds went to tuberculosis sufferers. The local trade and seafaring newspaper wrote in May 1907: The blue flower has won a victory. The whole city honors them. Everywhere you go you can see them on collars, hats, neckerchiefs and scarves. Businessmen, employees, workers, the elderly and children, the conductors in the trams, police officers, port wagons and coachmen - all carry the flower and it is in the air that everyone is happy to be there. It is the ideal of an idea: simple, inspiring and edifying.
A tradition arose among the students at Chalmers University of Technology to buy a may flower every year and attach it to the tassel of the student cap. The number shows how long the respective person has been studying at the university.
The Union
Under the direction of the Majblommans riksförbund, mostly school children and scouts sell the paper flowers of the year for about two weeks. There are around 700 local groups in Sweden for this purpose. Almost everywhere these local associations include representatives from local schools, state social and health services, and representatives from leisure facilities. Here it is discussed which families with children need support from the proceeds of the May flower in addition to state welfare. About ten percent of the proceeds will be paid to schools and leisure facilities that have participated in the sale of the paper flowers. In the last few years the price for a May flower was 10 crowns , which in 2009 and 2010 brought in around 50 million SEK each.
The sale of the paper flowers is also intended as an educational tool to arouse empathy among the school children involved for children in need in the area. In addition, the association gives out free study material to schools and other interested parties.
Manufacturing
Until 1997 there were two machines in Sweden for the production of paper flowers. When these could no longer be used, the association decided to relocate production to China . With the help of the Swedish Export Council ( Sveriges Exportråd ), a factory was sought that would meet the requirements for quality and good working conditions. The Good Luck plant in the east Chinese city of Taizhou was able to meet expectations. The production costs for a paper flower are around 16 ore. This means that workers earn around 35 percent above the minimum wage . The factory is visited by representatives of the association every year at fixed and unannounced times.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c "Majblommans historia" ( Memento of the original from April 20, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (black) www.majblomman.se, read April 19, 2012.
- ↑ "Hur saljer man?" ( Memento of the original from April 20, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (black) www.majblomman.se, read April 19, 2012.
- ↑ "Bidrag till barn" ( Memento of the original from April 15, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (black) www.majblomman.se, read April 20, 2012.
- ↑ a b Ola Wong: 16 öre att tillverka - 10 kr att köpa ( sw. ) Sydsvenskan . April 19, 2009. Retrieved April 22, 2012.
- ↑ "Vart går pengarna?" ( Memento of the original from June 17, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (black) www.majblomman.se, read April 22, 2012.
- ↑ "Majblommans studiematerial 2012" ( Memento of the original from May 22, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (black) www.majblomman.se, read April 20, 2012.
- ↑ Document on the required employment relationships ( memento of the original dated May 31, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (black) www.majblomman.se
