Make a Mayflower!

It started with a woman’s desire to do good and a little flower made of paper. Today ‘Majblomman’ is one of the world’s oldest children’s relief organizations and also one of the largest.

Insert from: majblomman.se/ At this website you can read more about the Swedish mayflower and it’s history.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link. 

Idea behind the craft

I came up with our own version of the mayflower two years ago, making a craft for our Swedish school. I wanted to teach the children about the Swedish tradition of the mayflower and also have them make one on their own. Since then I have done this craft many times, both in my children’s “regular” school and in Swedish school, which is an after school program we have here in San Diego. It’s a fun craft to make, even if you have no Swedish connections. You can just teach it as a spring craft, or you may choose to teach your children about the history behind it.

What does the mayflower stand for?

2018 mayflower

The “real” mayflower is a small flower pin you can attach to your jacket or purse. The flowers are being sold by school children all over Sweden during a two week period in April. The children and the school get to keep 20% of what they sell, while the rest of the money goes to fight child poverty in Sweden. ‘Majblomman’ strives to help children be children, without worries of economic limitations. The vision is for every child in Sweden to be included in the community with their friends, in school and during their free time. ‘Majblomman’ gives children things they need that some parents might not be able to pay for, such as: new glasses (so that the child will be able to read and follow the classes in school), a warm winter jacket (to be able to play outside during winter) and summer camp or vacation.

History of the mayflower

The first mayflower was sold in 1907, at the initiative of a social worker called Beda Hallberg. In the beginning the money helped children with tuberculosis, which was a terrible disease at the time. The idea was to give people the flower as a receipt for donating money to this charity. The price for the flower was to be kept low, so that anyone would be able to afford it. Today Majblomman is Sweden’s biggest children’s charity organization.

The mayflower today

A new flower has been made every year ever since! Each year children get to color flowers through apps, Instagram and children’s magazines. Then children all over the country get to vote which flower they would like to be the next year’s flower.

How to make your own mayflower

Materials needed

Materials needed:

• Various colored papers
• pencil
• pattern (download here)
• a pair of scissors
• 1 1/2 inch paper punch
• tape
• barbecue skewer
• paper fastener

1. Using this mayflower pattern, trace two flowers and one leaf on various colored paper (don’t forget: the children get to choose the colors!) Cut out.
2. Use a circular a 1 1/2 inch paper punch to cut out the middle of the flower. If you don’t have one, just cut your own. However, if you are making this craft for many children a paper punch is a big help!
3. Using caution, make a hole in the middle of paper circle, and both flowers (I just used the sharp end of the scissors), in order to put them together with a paper fastener.
4. Attach the barbecue skewer on the back by wrapping the paper fastener around it. Secure with tape.
5. Write whatever you’d like on the leaf and tape to the stick as well.

READY! Pretty easy, right?

I hope you and your kids enjoy this activity, wheater you decide to make it a lesson about the history behind the Mayflower charity organization, or just as a fun spring craft. Let me know if you have any questions. I would love you to post pictures of your creations below. And as always: Have fun with it!

Here is the FREE printable pattern again: mayflower pattern

Wanna remember how to make this may flower craft with your kids? Pin it to your favorite Pinterest board!

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