This time of year, every year, children
all over Sweden sell small Mayflower pins ('majblommor') to raise money for children who are less fortunate. This year, there's a limited-edition flower with 9 instead of 10 petals - a symbol for the fact that about 1 in 10 children in Sweden live in families who are struggling financially.
Queen Silvia of Sweden (photo 1) is Majblomman's highest patron and traditionally buys the first flower every spring. Children decide what the new
year's flower should look like, with thousands of schoolchildren sending in their designs and voting for their favourite.
The 2024 flower has been designed by 16-year-old Alexis Monnakgotla Svensson from Stockholm.