Mayday! Mayday!
Mayday! We need to bring back May Day!
Flora - from Botticelli’s Primavera
Originally a Roman festival honoring Flora, the goddess of flowers, spring, and fertility, May Day celebrations became synonymous with merrimaking, dancing, and singing - and the anonymous delivery of flowers. While the tradition didn’t take hold here, it’s exactly what we need right now: a day dedicated to spring, the season of rebirth, a time of new beginnings, of hope and optimism, and - in the form of secretive flower deliveries - gestures of kindness. Simple acts of thoughtfulness. Beautiful little signals of gratitude and care. Bring on the flowers. Bring. On. The. Kindness.
Early May Day Memories
My mother introduced my siblings and me to May Day when we were young. An avid gardener, her spring flowers were in full bloom by the onset of May. On the first day of the month, primroses in delicate shades of yellow and lavender, fragrant narcissus, and spikes of grape hyacinths found their way into tiny bouquets, carefully arranged and packaged up for our walk down the street. We went from house to house, placing the wee posies into mailboxes and onto doorsteps. Our mission felt secretive as we tried to make our deliveries without being discovered. Occasionally we were “caught” and showered with appreciation as the recipient “oohed” and “ahhed” over the beautiful flowers.
It’s likely my mother told us about May Day’s history, but my memory is devoid of details. Off to Google I go.
A Brief History of May Day
Long a tradition in England, May Day has roots in medieval Greek, Roman, and Celtic times. It marks the halfway point between the spring equinox and summer solstice with its observances tied to agriculture. Pagan rites and rituals sought to encourage abundant fertile crops and discourage disease. It included gathering branches, dancing around the maypole, and lighting bonfires.
Postcard of children from Dyrham School maypole dancing c. 1912, in the collection at Dyrham Park, Gloucestershire | © National Trust
Over time, the significance of the rituals diminished but dance and theatrical performances continued and additional traditions developed, such as the crowning of a May queen. In the 19th and 20th centuries the custom of delivering May Baskets became popular. Baskets of flowers were left anonymously on doorsteps; after a customary knock on the door and “May Day” holler, the giver would run with hopes of avoiding identification or capture.
The holiday never gained strong footing in America as the Puritans forbade the unholy, pagan celebration associated with May Day. A more recent version of May Day has its roots in the massive 1886 labor strike, when nearly 200,000 American workers fought for an eight hour workday. The Chicago Haymarket Affairs, as the movement became known as, inspired International Labor Day. The day was set aside for organized labor across the globe to demonstrate and fight for improved working conditions, voting rights, and worker solidarity - an important version, for sure, but not one that involved flower baskets!
Making a May Day Basket
A homemade basket is easy to do and a great way to reuse something that is destined for the trash or recycling. I took a quick walk through my house and came up with two simple options
Version #1 - cardstock scraps
Cut a small piece of paper into a rectangle or square. Trim off a strip for your handle.
Roll the rectangle into a cone shape. Tape the long edge to the cone to keep its shape.
Tape the strip of paper to the inside of the cone. It will hang better if you tape both sides of the strip close together.
Gather your flowers and place them in a small plastic bag. Add water and put an elastic around the outside of the bag to seal in the water. Place in the cone basket.
Hang your basket on a friend’s door. Knock, holler “May Day!” and run!
Version #2 - yogurt container
Clean a glass yogurt container and create a simple macrame hanger for it. Here’s a quick video with easy-to-follow instructions.
I found it helpful to tape the string where it forms the X under the container.
Add water and flowers, and deliver!
Your bouquet can consist of flowers you have grown, of course, but one does not need to have a garden to build a bouquet. Wildflowers surround you. You can even make a simple, sweet May basket with dandelions and clover. If you want to take your arrangement to the next level, include the meaning of the flowers you select on a note with your basket.
Make your secret delivery to neighbors, friends, family, coworkers, or even strangers. You will be spreading joy as you go!
Bonus: your kindness is good for you. Science backs up what we know instinctively: there are many benefits that come with small acts of kindness such as a May Day floral delivery. Kindness creates chemical changes within our bodies. From decreasing cortisol, a hormone correlated with stress levels, to increasing serotonin and dopamine, our “feel good” neurotransmitters, kindness to others and oneself contributes to good health and longevity.
