Today is May Day and I am gorging on flowers and surprise as this holiday lets us fall in love again with little ways to bring smiles into our day. Many of us grew up with this special time of the month to make handmade flower cones or weave strips of paper to create May Day baskets. Then, we pluck a few flowers from our garden, stuff them into our whimsical baskets, sneak up to our neighbor’s or friend’s house, hang our special surprise, ring the doorbell and run away to peek around the corner to see a smile as our special person smiles in delight and we feel happy all day long. Everyone loves an unexpected gift!
In my house, my Mom tended her flowers with as much love and patience as she did me and my sister, so of course, any moment to celebrate the glory of flowers, was an event to be celebrated. My school, from Pre Kindergarten to my senior year, maintained a time honored tradition on May Day every year for all the classes to dance around the Maypole, wear special flounced dresses ornamented with fresh flower hoops and crown a May Day Queen, quite the honor. May Day is imprinted on me for life.
May Day evolved in medieval and modern Europe, most probably as a “planting ritual” as a way to welcome Spring and the first planting of the crops. As an addition, gathering of flowers, weaving of floral garlands and dancing around a fanciful pole of ribbons elaborated the joyous return of the sun and warm weather and the renewal of life- a frivolous event, full of fanfare, flowers and fun.
For today’s May Day celebration, it’s a perfect time to romance our view outside as we gaze out our windows and dream about visions of flowers gloriously bursting with color in window boxes. Even if you don’t have any window boxes to fill up for this season, I have gathered a real “window bouquet of flowers” for you to enjoy. You know that I will take any opportunity to add decor and style to windows. For an inspirational May Day, today, we are “flowersgalore!”
Just for you,
Spectacular hues,
From your window’s view!
Have a color filled May Day…
