When Bob and I met in high school and began dating he introduced me to his mother. The introduction would be a fateful one, as over time she would become my “Mom away from Mom.” (But, that’s a story for another day…)
Her favorite flowers were daisies, so on May Day I made her a May basket and filled it with, what else? Daisies.
Quietly I snuck up to her doorstep, placed the basket near the door, rang the bell and then ran to hide!
It was a childhood tradition, the running and hiding.
She was too fast in answering the door, and caught me. It spoiled the fun of watching her wonder “Who did this?” but time would reveal that my actions that morning had endeared me to her.
May Day observance and its meaning are long forgotten by most folks today, but not by me, and not for its original meaning. For me, May Day brings back old memories of my Mother in Law, a basket of daisies and her love for me.
I loved you too, Mom, and some days I miss you terribly.
Happy May Day!
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For your interest…
Here is a video which shows a more traditional May Pole dance, which was, and still is, a part of the May Day Celebrations in England.
Such merry-making!
You may like to know that the dance is well choreographed, and when done correctly the May Pole will not just be wrapped in ribbons, it will be laced or woven in ribbons!
Image courtesy of Deaf Pagan Crossroads. Please click the image to be taken to her site and a well written post about the May Pole!
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A Special thanks to Steve Schwartzman of Portraits of Wildflowers as the inspiration for my post today, and also to EarthSky for the information on May Day celebrations. Both sites deserve a closer look!
Related articles
- Virtual May Basket (travelingrainvilles.typepad.com)
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You still here? Well then, here is an extra tidbit. If you are on WordPress and write a post that includes the words may pole dance you will be inundated by many suggestions for tie ins regarding the POLE DANCE! Which interestingly, seems to be promoted much differently than my understanding of the craft. 😉 That aside, Google made the distinction and offered up useful and germane information, whereas WordPress could not. 😉
Life on the Farmlet 
LOL, Steve, I hadn’t considered this aspect. It will be fun to see if it generates more hits for us. 😉
I’m glad my post this morning inspired you to write this. Happy May Day to you and happy memories from long ago.
Thank you, Steve. Happy May Day!
LOL, well there’d be a awful lot of disappointed people “hitting on” your site this morning then, wouldn’t there?
*giggle, snort* ; )
Thanks for the links.
Happy May Day Lynda!
For sure! And, thank you, Deb, Happy May Day!
Love your tradition and what lovely memories it brings back for you! Maypole dancing is indeed a wonderful tradition too – such fun to watch and if you’re lucky you get encouraged to join in – doesn’t make for the best patterns though as practice is important 😀
Thanks, Annie, and YES, practice is important! I have seen some of the funny things that can happen when you are not prepared! 😉
What a lovely memory! We don’t celebrate May Day in Canada perhaps because we would need to shuffle between weaving a pole and making an igloo! Daisies are my fave flowers too!
What a vision, Diane! LOL!
Isn’t it though!
how funny about ‘pole dance’ and how sweet about the basket of daisies!
what a loving gift, and yes, she was surely thrilled how life later presented you to her!
Thank you, Lisa. She was a very open person, and always spoke her mind. She got me through some rough (family) times in my teens. I always knew I could trust her to be honest and direct… even when I was the one in the wrong. 😉
Mom and I always made May baskets together, literally made the baskets (paper doily cones with a ribbon handle for hanging on someone’s door knob, hand woven construction paper baskets, etc.). I remember we mostly had pansies and african daisies growing to pick and put in them. We’d take them all over the neighborhood together. Just the other day as May Day approached I was remembering how much I loved doing that, so your post really made my heart smile.
I never knew this. It must have been so much fun! So, the day is special to both of us because of your mom. Thank you for sharing with me, Kathee!
xo
Such a sweet memory.
One of the best, Patti, thank you!
Thank you for sharing this sweet memory Lynda.
I never knew the part about the pole ending up with beautiful lace patterns.Old traditions always come with sweet little details that make them more endearing
You are welcome, Sawsan, and thank you for visiting me today!
And yes, traditions are more fun when you know the details, or at least *we* think so. 😉
what a lovely way to celebrate May Day, and what special memories to have and hold onto.
Here in Hastings we have a May day festival – http://www.hastings.gov.uk/community_living/2013_events/jack/ you might enjoy reading about it
And LOL about May poles 🙂
It was, Claire! I loved looking through the Hastings May Day pictures. So many green people! 😀
We were at Glastonbury today but not dancing round the maypole.
Aw, Tom, you missed out on all the fun! 😉
You are too sweet, Lisa!
your story triggered another story! thanks, flower fairy!
http://playamart.wordpress.com/2013/05/01/flower-fairies/
And it is a wonderful story too, Lisa!
As kids, we practiced the May Day tradition of taking small cups of goodies around to all of the elderly neighbors. We decorated drink cups, used pipe cleaners for handles, then filled them with candies. I haven’t thought to do it in years now, but it sure was fun hiding the cups and running to hide, watching the surprised looks from behind a shrub or around the corner! Thanks for this wonderful memory, Lynda!
You’re welcome, Lori! Glad to hear that you too had this lovely experience!
Sweet post with loving thoughts if a grear MIL. You were lucky to have had her. 🙂
Yes, I was! She was a good friend to me for many years, and I loved her very much.
I’m delighted to read your post about this lovely old tradition. (You explained it so much better than I did.) I loved my mil too! We are the lucky ones for that!
Yes, we are,
SallySallie! So few get along with their MIL. But then, Bob and I knew each other for a VERY long time before we got married. I think that helped too.I went on autopilot with the spelling of your name, Sallie. I really hate it when people do that to me. I’m sorry.
The May baskets were a huge deal in my day – always filled with flowers instead of candy. Flowering almond, violets and spirea were favorites. And making the baskets was such fun. Sometimes they were nut cups with pipe cleaner handles, and sometimes they were the cones.
Do any kids still consider construction paper, paper doilies and pipe cleaners necessities of life any more? Naw – didn’t think so. 😉
They did in my class, Linda. 🙂
HOORAY!
🙂
A beautiful and inspiring celebration of life and blessings. Love the video and the images in this post. Fun and exciting!
I’m glad you liked it, Island Traveler!
Someday, I would like to know your name. If you are comfortable to share it. 🙂
What a dear post. I ran over to visit when you reminded me that I have been delinquent. The old brain needs a nudge now and again if you don’t mind, Lynda. Yes, you need a clump or so of the Walking Iris (Regina). The clumps grow to 3-feett wide and 4-5-ft. tall in short order. They like morning sun and lots of light so they have to be in partial shade or at least shaded from direct sunlight during the day. Otherwise, you won’t have to do anything special for them. 🙂 Since they grow from rhizomes, you can order any kind you like from online, I’m sure.
The word ‘delinquent’ never passed my fingertips! 😉
I will be shopping for these when we get settled up on the mountain. I just read a bit more about them today and it seems they get their name because of the little side plants that grow out from where the flowers emerge on the stems!
What fun, George!
🙂 🙂 They are fun!