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Mother’s Day

When is Mother’s Day?

Mother’s Day is the second Sunday in February in Norway – not in May, like in most other countries. Here is the date for this year and the next ten years, why we celebrate midwinter, and what really hits the mark as a gift.

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Datoen for i år og de neste ti årene

Morsdag 2027

Det er 152 dager til morsdag. Mother’s Day is always the second Sunday in February, so the date falls between 8th and 14th February.

Because the day is tied to a weekday and not a fixed date, it shifts a bit each year. Here are the next ten:

ÅrMorsdag
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
2035
2036

Hvorfor feirer Norge morsdag i februar?

This is the question people ask after they’ve found the date. Norway is actually in the minority: most European countries celebrate Mother’s Day in May, the UK in March, and the Nordics are divided.

The first Norwegian Mother’s Day was celebrated in a Methodist church in Bergen on 9 February 1919. Mother’s Day had originated in the USA in 1908 and spread through Europe, and in Norway it was Dorothea Margrethe Schjoldager and Karen Platou who worked to have the day placed on the second Sunday in February – in cooperation with charities, the press and businesses.

The reason for February rather than May was probably practical: May was already full of holidays in Norway. So while most other countries followed the American pattern with the second Sunday in May, the Norwegian February date remained.

Practical consequence: if you have family abroad, they probably celebrate on a completely different day than you. It’s a common source of guilt in families with members in several countries.

Hva gjør man på morsdag?

  • Breakfast in bed. The most widespread tradition, and the one remembered longest when children are small.
  • Flowers. Mother’s Day is one of the busiest days of the year for Norwegian florists. Order well in advance if you want something specific.
  • Homemade card. From children, this beats everything else, and these are the cards that are kept.
  • Dinner or coffee. Adult children often gather at mum’s, or invite her out.

Hva gir man i morsdagsgave?

Flowers and chocolate are safe, but also what everyone else gives. If you want to hit the mark better, there are three directions that work:

  • An experience rather than an object. Dinner, spa, concert, a day trip. Remembered longer than a bouquet.
  • Something that removes work. Cleaning, gardening help, ready-made dinner delivered. Unpoetic, often the most appreciated.
  • Something she chooses herself. Mothers are notoriously difficult to buy for, because they say they don’t need anything and mean it half-heartedly.

If you’re unsure, there’s more about the last option in gift for the person who has everything.

Hva skriver man på morsdagskortet?

The rule is the same as for all cards: one concrete thing beats any superlative. “World’s best mum” could be written to anyone. “Thanks for never saying I should choose something safer” could only be written to one.

Need help with the wording? There are 25 suggestions in birthday greetings which can easily be rewritten for Mother’s Day. And if several siblings are writing in the same card, joint gift explains how you do it without passing the paper around.

Og når er farsdag?

Second Sunday in November. The date for this year and the next ten are in when is Father’s Day.

Frequently asked questions about Mother’s Day

When is Mother’s Day in Norway?

Mother’s Day is the second Sunday in February in Norway. The date changes every year but always falls between 8th and 14th February. Norway is among the few countries that celebrate Mother’s Day in February – most other countries place it in March or May.

Why does Norway celebrate Mother’s Day in February?

The first Norwegian Mother’s Day was celebrated in a Methodist church in Bergen on 9th February 1919. Dorothea Margrethe Schjoldager and Karen Platou worked to place the day on the second Sunday in February – probably because May in Norway was already full of holidays and celebrations.

Is Mother’s Day an official public holiday?

No. Mother’s Day is a commemorative day, not a public holiday. Shops and public transport follow the usual Sunday schedule, and it’s not a flag day.

What is usual to give for Mother’s Day?

Flowers are by far the most common gift, often together with breakfast or a homemade card. Many also give an experience rather than an object – dinner, spa or something to do together. A gift card works well when you know she prefers to choose herself.

What do you write on a Mother’s Day card?

One specific thing you’re grateful for beats “world’s best mum”. Mention a habit, a phrase she always says, or something she did for you that you only appreciated later.

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    When is Mother’s Day? Date, traditions and gift tips | hygge