Gardening Sweet Spots
By Donna Hessel, Emerald Necklace Garden Club
In times gone by on May 1st, small baskets fashioned out of paper cones or plastic cups with hangers attached were filled with popcorn, small candies, and flowers and surreptitiously hung on the front doorknobs of friends’ or favorite neighbors’ homes. Traditionally, the basket creator hung the basket on the front doorknob of the recipient’s home, rang the doorbell and ran away. If the recipient caught the deliverer before they escaped, they kissed them.
Today, in some towns, this is a project of the local garden club. Small baskets of mostly flowers are delivered to shut-ins or assisted living residents on May Day. Making May baskets is also a great shared activity with children or grandchildren. Children from a very young age can participate in creating a container, picking flowers and adding small candies or popcorn to the baskets. They’ll have fun delivering their May basket as well, although they probably will want to hang around to enjoy the recipient’s response and get that kiss! If you make and deliver the basket, you may get a hug instead; but your thoughtfulness can solidify a relationship or result in a new friendship.
May baskets can be fashioned from paper rolled into cones, or cans covered with wrapping paper and scrapbooking decorations. Decorated Chinese take-out containers (available at dollar stores) are also possibilities. Attach ribbon or floral wire to the top for hanging on the door. Plastic baggies tucked into the basket will keep treats and/or flowers separated and fresh. Add a tag with a “Happy May Day” sentiment (and the names of the creators if applicable).
The history of May Day is interesting. May Day is thought to be a combination of ancient Roman and Celtic holidays. The Roman end of April week-long festival, Floralia, was in honor of Flora, goddess of flowers and fertility. The Celtic May 1st holiday, Beltane, was a celebration of spring and the reawakening after winter. Both likely began as agricultural holidays, hoping to ensure the success of the spring planting season. As the Romans expanded into the British Isles, the celebrations eventually merged. May Day was popular in medieval Europe. Villagers went “a-maying,” gathering flowers, decorating the town, and enjoying games, dances, and pageants. The May Queen presided over events, such as dancing around the maypole. Participants held long ribbons attached to the pole, and wove the ribbons over, under and around the pole as they danced; then reversed the steps to unwind. The dance represented the lengthening days of the approaching summer. I can just imagine a dozen giddy young women in their long white springtime dresses with swishing skirts floating around the pole as they wrapped and unwrapped the ribbons. What fun!
May Day was never as popular in America as it was in Europe because the early Puritan settlers disapproved of such pagan celebrations. But there’s no reason not to revive the tradition now. Provide a surprise and a little love to a friend or neighbor (and also plant the seeds of thoughtfulness and caring for others in your children or grandchildren). Happy May Day!
