May 1st ("May Day") Traditions

Palomar · 2005-04-30 21:26:48

*When I was a kid, folks in our small hometown still left Maybaskets on the front steps or porch of the homes of friends and family. We'd fill our baskets with popcorn, tart candies, licorice, etc., my mom would load the baskets up in a box and we'd deliver them. When returning home or just prior to taking our deliveries, there'd be baskets from others on our top step. Unfortunately this tradition died out around 1974.

What brings this up is an article I read in Reminisce magazine. A lady, age not given but she looked to be about 13 in a photo taken in 1938, wrote an article about May Day celebrations when she was growing up. She described it as "one of the busiest nights of the year." You'd make Maybaskets for friends and family. Deliver it to their door. Knock at the door then run like crazy because the recipient would be waiting just inside the door for the knock. They'd dash out of the house after you, and if you got caught you got kissed. :laugh:

She recalled all the fun of running like mad, being chased, tripping, dogs barking their heads off...she also described the fancy Maybaskets her family would make (entirely from scratch), what sort of trinkets and small gifts were tucked inside, etc.

I didn't know May Day had been a tradition like that (knocks, chases and kisses), back then. Unfortunately she didn't mention -where- in the U.S. she grew up. None of my elderly family members ever mentioned anything similar.

Guess I missed out on the real fun. :-\

Anyone else have a memory to share, or does the tradition continue where you live?

--Cindy

Shaun Barrett · 2005-04-30 22:03:30

I missed out on all that fun, too.
I've never heard of this particular tradition.

::Edit:: I wonder if Dicktice might be able to throw some light on it? ???

Trebuchet · 2005-05-01 02:01:05

I run out and beat up Communists. :laugh:

More seriously, why the heck did they pick this day to be some sort of socialist holiday? Random choice? I know it was picked by a committe, which guarantees some stupid reason.

clark · 2005-05-01 06:46:07

She described it as "one of the busiest nights of the year." You'd make Maybaskets for friends and family. Deliver it to their door. Knock at the door then run like crazy because the recipient would be waiting just inside the door for the knock. They'd dash out of the house after you, and if you got caught you got kissed.

Read an article a while back- two girls made cookies, left them in front of some woman's house, knocked on her door and ran. I think it was late at night when they did this.

She ended up suing them for harrasment.

So in May, I try to avoid being sued by the litigious society we live in. :laugh:

What a world.

Palomar · 2005-05-01 07:05:43

I run out and beat up Communists. :laugh:
More seriously, why the heck did they pick this day to be some sort of socialist holiday? Random choice? I know it was picked by a committe, which guarantees some stupid reason.

*You're referring to the Soviet Union connection with May Day? It was a big celebration for them; I recall news coverage during the Cold War.

May Day has its true origins in paganism. Dancing around the Maypole (fertility association), etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_Day]Check out "English Tradition" & "Elsewhere" towards bottom of page

--Cindy

DonPanic · 2005-05-01 10:17:03

LO
In France, on 1st of May, tradition is to present (girl)friends with lilies of the valley, then to go demonstrate with trade unions.
The past 30 years these demonstrations where almost without any social aims other than to obey a tradition.
In past times, lilies of the valley grew up in forests.
They have been so much picked up that wild lilies of the valley have almost disappeared, and all are now only cultivated ones.
On 1st of May anybody is allowed to buy lilies of the valley from groceries and to sell them back in the streets.
The french communist party militants use to make money by selling the 1st of May lilies of the valley.
As this party is rather on the disappearance path, as a member of an endangered species (such as burgundy snails) protection group member, I always buy lilies of the valley from communist militants*, authentic part of french folklore.

* They are arguing about the choice of which phone cabin in will take place their next congress...

BWhite · 2005-05-01 10:24:26

In France, on 1st of May, tradition is to present (girl)friends with lilies of the valley, then to go demonstrate with trade unions.

Ah! It is all so clear to me, now.

DonPanic · 2005-05-01 11:00:07

LO

Ah! It is all so clear to me, now.

And you must realise that 90 % of the lilies of the valley production is sold out on 1st of May, so that cultivators must synchonise the growth with pretty good efficiency.
Synchronising demonstrations is much more easy

To be more precise :

Origins of the 1st of May lily of the valley.
The lily of the valley is originated from Asia, more precisely, Japan.
This plant is known and acclimatized in France since the middle ages. The lily of the valley was a long time the symbol of the Spring revival, thus it was logical that it became symbol of happiness and an amulet.
May 1st, 1561, King Charles IX of France founded the tradition to offer lily of the valley on 1st of May as a bringing happiness.
It is only about 1907, then into 1936 that the lily of the valley is associated with the Labour Day.
The date of 1st of May as the Labour day was adopted in 1889, with the congress of the foundation of IIe Internationale in Paris. This date was selected in memory of those who died at the Ist of May 1886 workers demonstration, in Chicago demanding for the introduction of the 8 laboured hours day.
In Paris, at a demonstration in 1890, the demonstrators ravelled while carrying to the buttonhole a red triangle symbolizing their claims, namely ideal division of the day in 3 eights: work - sleep - leisures. This triangle was replaced by the flower of wild rose then by the lily of the valley associated with a red necktie.
It has been this day where Labour Day and lily of the valley were associated.
It is only into 1936 that one finds the first sales of lily of the valley on first of May.

On market, today, I bought orange buttercups, then lilies of the valley for my beloved, and I don't mind political signifcation attached to these pretty lille flowers, nor did demonstrate with trade unions,
I'm a free-lance...

Commodore · 2005-05-02 17:29:46

Thats the day we all wear red and parade our tanks down the street.

DonPanic · 2005-05-03 14:46:28

LO

Thats the day we all wear red and parade our tanks down the street.

Red as republicans... and tanks down iraki streets ?

Black_fox · 2005-05-04 22:09:09

Commodore
Ounly flags was red and tank parade was on May 9.

Mars_B4_Moon · 2022-10-12 08:48:13

The Martian landscape has a day not too unlike Earth however it has long winters and long summers, I think the Biospheres of Mars will probably celebrate some kind of Harvest. There are also other music festival on Earth, art costume festival around the world, a Hippie Community Tree Day, a Truffle Day, a National celebration of Mexican victory over the French, a news media Press Freedom Day. In more recent times it made the news with Russian Imperialism the invasion of Ukraine and the return of old Soviet style parade.

If Mars has a fight for independence then perhaps it will have to honor its dead in some remembrance or celebrations of freedoms.

Mars might have Art, Poets, Song, Ballroom and Stage performance but helped by AI Robots?

Bioinspired robots interact with performers in new dance project
https://www.newscientist.com/video/2341 … e-project/

May Celebrations there are many observations on Earth

Discussion of time keeping on another world

'Martian Calender - I have created a martian calendar'.
https://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=2760

Last edited by Mars_B4_Moon (2022-10-12 08:49:59)

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#1 2005-04-30 21:26:48

Re: May 1st ("May Day") Traditions

#2 2005-04-30 22:03:30

Re: May 1st ("May Day") Traditions

#3 2005-05-01 02:01:05

Re: May 1st ("May Day") Traditions

#4 2005-05-01 06:46:07

Re: May 1st ("May Day") Traditions

#5 2005-05-01 07:05:43

Re: May 1st ("May Day") Traditions

#6 2005-05-01 10:17:03

Re: May 1st ("May Day") Traditions

#7 2005-05-01 10:24:26

Re: May 1st ("May Day") Traditions

#8 2005-05-01 11:00:07

Re: May 1st ("May Day") Traditions

#9 2005-05-02 17:29:46

Re: May 1st ("May Day") Traditions

#10 2005-05-03 14:46:28

Re: May 1st ("May Day") Traditions

#11 2005-05-04 22:09:09

Re: May 1st ("May Day") Traditions

#12 2022-10-12 08:48:13

Re: May 1st ("May Day") Traditions

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