First of May

The First of May in France is called Fête du Travail, word for word "Celebration of Work". That's why we don't work on this day ! I'm not sure it is really logical. So we'd better use Workers' Day.

But it is also the day people offer lily of the valley. Tradition has it that around 1560-1570, on a first of May, King Charles IX of France was offered a sprig of lily of the valley to bring him luck and that from this date he used to offer the ladies of his court lily of the valley each year on the same day.

You can either go in the woods to find lily of the valley or buy it, or go to your garden of course. And on the first of May, and only on this day in France, anybody is allowed to sell lily of the valley in the streets. There are a few rules, e.g. to stand at least 40 meters away from a flower shop, but a lot of people do that to get a bit of money.

As I am not good at finding lily of the valley in the woods (I only find leaves) and haven't got any in the garden, I wait for my husband to offer it. Good idea, isn't it ?

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Comments

[Kay Lamb]

I was moved to ask myself "now what would I think if the King gave me Lily of the Valley to get lucky"?
LOL I imagine the lady's of the court got a good laugh out of that. You are indeed Lucky to have your husband offer you Lily of the Valley.

[Maryse]

In spite of the tradition I don't receive lily of the valley each year !