May Day

May Day is on May first, and it is a springtime holiday celebrated in many countries.  In some places there are parades, or dancing around a Maypole.

In school we would make a crown of flowers and place it on the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary to crown her the Queen of May.

We tried to find the earliest spring flowers, usually violets, to make a May Basket.  When spring came late to Minnesota, we would make tissue-paper flowers to put into a home-made basket made from the plastic or wood containers that held a pint of strawberries at the supermarket.  The plan was that you made a May Basket, hung it on the door of a neighbor or friend's house, rang the doorbell and ran away before they could see you.  Mostly, we hung the baskets on our own back door and rang the bell for Mother.

There are many cute ways to decorate a round cake for May Day.  A straw stuck in the center and curling ribbons attached to the top, and you have your very own Maypole.

Perhaps your May Basket could include packages of flower or vegetable seeds for your garden.  Planting time will be here before you know it.