Majblomma

The Majblomma (definite form: Majblomman; Swedish for 'mayflower') is a paper flower pin sold by schoolchildren in Sweden to raise funds for charity.

[citation needed] After seeing her daughter with a Gustavus Adolphus Day paper badge, she founded a committee including Frigga Carlberg, a feminist social worker and writer, as well as the municipal physician (stadsläkare) K. J. Gezelius.

Businessmen, civil servants, workers, old men and children, tram conductors, police officers, kayakers, drivers – they all carry the flower and feel that everyone is happy to be involved.

Following the initial success in Sweden, similar mayflower fund raising took place in Finland (1908), Norway and Denmark (1909), The Netherlands and Belgium (1910), Russia, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and France (1911), Britain and Estonia (1912), Algeria (1913), Cuba (1916), The US (1922) and India (1932).

However, as tuberculosis rates in Europe declined, most international charities eventually disbanded, and now only remain in Sweden, Finland, Norway, and Estonia (today with different missions).