May Day is a Must!

May 1^st is May Day. It is an ancient spring festival that has been adapted and altered by past generations, and nations. In early America, baskets were filled with flowers and left on someone’s doorstep. The secret giver would ring the bell and run, leaving behind a bouquet and joy. One of the easiest ways to find pleasure is by giving it away.

Take the time on May 1^st to renew a forgotten celebration. Surprise and delight your friends and neighbors with a little token of spring.

In the Midwest spring has been struggling to plant her flag. The beautiful blooms of spring are just now beginning to make an appearance. Large bouquets of flowers are out of the question this season. However miniature blooms are thumbing their noses at the lingering, left-over season and popping out wherever they can.

Heirloom varieties such as Dutchman breeches are hiding in plain sight. They along with other wild flowers we would consider weeds cover the spring landscape. Small, and near to the ground, they are treasures worth searching for.

Miniature flowers call for miniature vases. A trip to your local antique or flea market will reward you with the perfect containers for your spring surprises. It is easy to find inexpensive containers for your May Day treats at this type of shop.

  

The May Day tradition is to ring the bell and run leaving behind your basket of flowers for an unaware friend to discover. Feel free to continue this tradition. However, my fear is that a miniature basket will not be seen and may instead be stepped on. That is why I suggest allowing your friend to find you waiting at the door with your basket. It’s also handy to be present so that you can explain the random gift.

Last year I delivered three baskets on a very cold May 1^st. One friend had never heard of May Day and didn’t understand the arrival of my miniature basket. Being on hand helps clear up any confusion.

I know from experience that as life gets busy, we by necessity, delete things from our lives. I previously shared that I had deleted making a fuss about Easter when I was in full overwhelm mode. Most women could rightfully declare that they don’t have time for silly activities such as a dead holiday like May Day.

If this is your way of thinking, I implore you to reconsider. We’ve all heard the saying life is too short. We’ve heard it so often; the words mean very little. You may argue that life IS too short and your time is limited. There is work to be done, meals to prepare, kids to raise, laundry to wash and more laundry to wash and did I mention there is laundry to wash?

Life however, must be filled with life. We spend so much of our days working either at a job or at home in order that we can live. So, LIVE. Enjoy little opportunities to make someone else smile. Enjoy the little pleasures in life that we’ve forgotten about in our daily rush. Enjoy the pleasure that comes when our eyes are opened to the world around us that does not exist on our to-do list.

May Day, a holiday worth reviving. Life, something worth reviving. Joy, something worth giving. Delight, something worth having.

Happy May Day. May each of you know that I’m sending a little bouquet from my heart to you.

 

Spring reading suggestion. The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter

Book 3 in an 8 book series, The Tale of Cuckoo Brow Wood begins as the village prepares for their May Day festivities.

Enjoy these fictional tales of Beatrix Potter and the residents of her quaint English village. (furry ones too)

Start with The Tale of Hill Top Farm, followed by The Tale of Holly How then continue with The Tale of Cuckoo Brow Wood. 

Fairies are afoot and there’s always a mystery lurking.

“When you are young so many things are difficult to believe, and yet the dullest people will tell you that they are true – such things,  for instance, as that the earth goes round the sun, and that it is not flat but round. But the things that seem really likely, like fairy-tales and magic, are, so they say the grown-ups, not true at all. Yet they are so easy to believe, especially when you see them happening.” Edith Nesbit – The Enchanted Castle – 1907