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Show Thoughts From The Garden... by Tonya LeMone "When Spring spills forth... " The words May Day have mixed messages depending on what you are looking for. May Day could mean a call of someone in distress with an emergency or May Day could also mean the celebration of Spring on May 1, a day when Spring spills forth. As of yet I have never had to use the distress call, but have and love the celebration of Spring with the traditional symbol of a May Day basket both given and received. As a young child in elementary school, May Day was celebrated by the carefully woven basket that was an art project for the entire week and concluding the week's celebration, we all participated in the winding of the May pole. Since we only made one basket it was very difficult for me to choose to whom my basket would go to and what would be in the basket went beyond imagination. Because of my love of everything French, I researched how the French celebrate this holiday. It all began on May 1, 1561. King Charles IX of France received the flower Lily of the Valley as a lucky charm. He then proclaimed that the Lily-of-the-Valley would from that day forward be offered each year to the ladies of the court. Carrying on that proclamation at the beginning of the 20th century, it became the custom to give a sprig of Lily-of-the-Valley as the symbol of springtime on May 1. The government, as an extra bonus, would also allow them to be sold free of taxation. Those ladies of the court and the commoners who received the flower would traditionally give a kiss in return. Here in my garden the Lily-of-the-Valley are not yet peeking through the soil. In the United States, May Day baskets are seldom given any more; however, I personally give two to two dear friends who not only appreciate but understand what it means to receive a touch of tradition and Spring anonymously. Each year I look forward to the planning of my container and of the contents of my May Day basket. Sometimes I will fill theni with cut flowers or some years I plant them up with the delightsome Johnny Jump-ups. The child-like thrill of making a basket, deciding what to fill it with then quickly placing it on the door knob, ringing the door bell and running away so as not to be discovered, never goes away. The joy I have received is truly that of a child playing a prank but with kinder results and no harm involved. As I begin to plan my baskets this year, the beauty of the pansies are calling me because of their delicate little faces and the very long awaited hope of Spring this year. Thomas John Ouseley wrote this about pansies. "The beauteous pansies rise in purple, gold and blue with tints of rainbow hue mocking the sunset skies." Yes, I think I will choose pansies this year. Even though May Day has never meant a signal of distress to me in terms of needing to be rescued, it could mean just that to someone who may be alone or lonely. Emulate Spring's perfect harmony this year and let Spring spill forth for someone through the handcrafted art of a May Day basket from you, and you may be surprised when you receive one in return. See you in the Garden.... |