1st of May! (Holidays)

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I like to read about our early American settlers and how they cultivated the land, how they built their houses, how they tended their crops and livestock and how they lived in general.

I have found out about many old celebrations and customs that they observed. One was a time of "May baskets". Young girls would go and pick the first spring flowers and leave them in baskets on the doorstep of their parents home, especially on the first of May. My three girls are going to do this tommorrow and have a good ol' time!

Maybe we could have a "National Flower Basket Month"....It would be much nicer than a "National Hamburger Month" which sadly May also is!

-- Jason (AJAMA5@netscape.net), April 30, 2001

Answers

Response to 1st of May!

Well I was never a young girl out picking flowers, but in the lower grades in school we always made May Baskets out of construction paper, then took them home to fill with whatever we could find. Many years there would be nothing in bloom at that time of year, so paper flowers were cut out and colored for the occasion.

It just so happens that some years I still observe the May Basket observation, and did so just last year. I think that makes about three times in the last ten years that I've left baskets.

I find that most gals like a little special attention even if it is a little corny and perhaps even a little childish. Am I right ladies??

-- Notforprint (Not@thekeyboard.com), April 30, 2001.


Response to 1st of May!

Gotta ask, Jason, How old are you? May day and May baskets are just common knowledge, as far as I know. Just like NotForPrint, we made them for our moms in grade school, when dh and I were first married (1970) he always brought me May baskets from the florist. And when my sons were in elementary school (both born in 1977) they always brought home paper May baskets filled with paper flowers. Although I don't remember them myself (I'm not THAT old) my mother used to talk about Maypoles. Kathie

-- Kathie in Western Wahington (twinrosefarm@worldnet.att,net), May 01, 2001.

Response to 1st of May!

May Day is also called Beltaine, one of the 8 major holidays for Pagans, the jist is fertility of crops and such through sympathetic magic--and flowers and headwreaths are one of the symbols of it, as well as the maypole :)

Brendan

-- Brendan K Callahan (sleeping@netins.net), May 01, 2001.


Happy May Day to all! When I was in grade school (late 60's arly 70's), we always made May baskets out of construction paper in school. But we filled them with candy also. My mom helped me maked May baskets at home with paper cups filled with candy and cracker jack toys that were doubles of what we kept. The tatoos were the most liked by my May Day friends. We would place the baskets on the step of the house of our recipient, knock and then stand at the end of the walk and wait for them to open the door. The tradition was for the recipient to run to us and give us a hug or a kiss. Of course, part of the fun was to make them chase us. When my children were in grade school, I helped them make May Baskets to take to school and deliver to friends in the neighborhood. (This was all back when I lived in town, as now I live in the country, yahoo, and my children are older.) I believe the May Day traditions are fading away. I think I will stop at the store on the way to work and buy supplies to make baskets to give to my friends today! Why not? Have a good day! JoAnn

-- JoAnn in SD (jonehls@excite.com), May 01, 2001.

I must say that I have never heard of such going's on as these May baskets. (I was born in the 60's) - Maybe it depends on what part of the country you're from? I do vaguely remember seeing pictures in books of the May Pole with all the ribbons (streamers) etc., but I couldn't tell you if my life depended on it what in the world their purpose was. And as far as the pagan worship version goes, this is the first I've ever heard of anything like that. I kinda like the basket idea...about making them, filling them with treats and notions just for the sake of giving pleasure to someone else. I think we oughta do stuff like that whether it's May or not! Sure would be nice to put a smile on someone's face or be the one smilin' no matter what the month (or occassion). Just my thoughts.

-- Greenthumbelina (sck8107@aol.com), May 01, 2001.


I remember May Baskets!! "In the olden days" in lower elementary school, we used to make them in class. The thing was to make a paper basket, and crepe paper flowers to fill it. We'd put in an anonomous note, and take them home. The idea was to set them on a neighbor's doorstep, ring the bell, and disappear.

We also used to have a Maypole at school as sort of a 'field day' thing, lots of games and stuff... It was all decorated in bright crepe paper.

Brings back lots of memories!!! Thanks for the post!

-- Sue Diederich (willow666@rocketmail.com), May 01, 2001.


My daughter's 4H club just made and delivered May Baskets to the elderly in our area. Actually, they weren't baskets really, just construction paper rolled into a cylinder shape to hold some flowers. They've done this every year for as long as I know the club has been in existence. Its fun to watch something so simple bring a smile to someone's face.

-- Lisa in WI (lehman16@vbe.com), May 01, 2001.

Maypoles are wonderful fun, we do one every year. A tall pole is put up, with a grapevine wreath at the top. Enough long ribbons are attached to the wreath to accomodate everyone who wants to join in. Everyone grabs a ribbon, and every other person steps in. The inner ring of folks goes one way, the outer folk go the other, with an over/under tradeoff as you pass the folks going the other way. Don't worry if you have an odd number, it will cause a bit of confusion, but that's part of the fun. This will basketweave the ribbons around the pole. As you run out of ribbon, tie off at the base of the pole.

-- Connie (Connie@lunehaven.com), May 01, 2001.

Born in '68, and remember May Day stuff like baskets quite clearly!

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), May 02, 2001.

I am so happy to read about others experienes with May Baskets. We made them from colored paper and also from any small carton. Like cottage cheese containers. Then attached a handle. We often had no real flowers in May. North and central Minnesota, in May, was not likely to have much blooming yet. We put in paper flowers and candy and nuts. I am not sure of all of the traditions. Only what my Mom and Grandma suggested and what the school did. We had a Maypole at school.

The baskets were taken to the doors of neighbor's homes and the handles hooked over the door handle or the basket leaned or placed in front of the door. Then we would knock and run. The idea was to leave a gift but not be seen. At least that was how I was told to do it and it was fun. I had my children make May baskets long ago but, gradually, here, where no one else seemed to know of the custom or care, I gave up on it. How lovely to know that the tradition is still alive somewhere. Hope it makes a comeback and in more places. Jo

-- Jo (joeydee37@yahoo.com), May 07, 2001.



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