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More than 2,000 years ago in Rome, people worshipped Flora, the goddess of flowers. They honored Flora with a celebration at the beginning of May. The celebration included feasts, parades, plays, and sports contests.
In Great Britain the Ancient Celts honored their sun god in May. They believed that evil spirits of cold and darkness captured the sun god each autumn. In order for the sun god to escape the Celts lit bonfires on the hilltops to scare away the evil spirits.
In some areas people worshipped tree gods. The tree gods were honored on the first of May by going to the woods and cutting tree branches to be placed over the people’s doors. Sometimes a whole tree was cut down. This tree was called the May Tree. The May Tree could be carried house to house bringing a blessing to each home or it might be erected in the center of the village.
There are several traditions still celebrated today which grew out of ancient spring time observances.
One tradition is that of the maypole. A tall straight tree was cut down and its branches were trimmed off. In many countries this "maypole" is stood in the center of town and everyone helps to decorate it.
Early decorations included garlands of the pink and white blossoms of the hawthorn bush and ribbons. Later a maypole dance, which may have been borrowed from the Moorish people of Spain, was introduced. In this dance, sometimes called the Ribbon Dance, ribbons are fastened to the top of the maypole. Dancers are then given the other end of a ribbon. As the dancers circle the maypole they crisscross their ribbons weaving them in a bright pattern down the pole.
In England and America children sometimes deliver May baskets. Tiny baskets, usually made of paper, are filled with flowers. One basket was made for each friend. Then on the first of May children would deliver the baskets.
Traditionally the baskets were hung on a doorknob. The sender would then ring the bell or knock upon the door and run away to hide, in much the same way that a secret valentine might be sent.
Traditionally in England a young girl was selected to be Queen of the May. All the children dressed in bright clothes, and girls wore long trains and wreaths in their hair. Each child carried a garland with a small May Queen doll dressed in white placed in the center. The children follow the chosen Queen of the May from house to house where they stopped to recite:
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And at your door we stand. It is a sprout well budded out, The work of our Lord’s hand. |
Cut a 1" wide strip of construction paper 11" long. Also cut out a 9" circle of construction paper in the same color. Imagine the paper circle is a pie. Cut out a piece of this "pie." It should be a 1/8 section of the circle.
Using the crayons or markers, draw a design on one side of the circle. The design might show spring flowers, birds, or a bright abstract design. Then slide one side of circle where the section was cut out over top of the other side. Continue to slide the edges together so they overlap and a cone is formed. Be sure your decorated side is on the outside of the cone.
When you have made the cone the size you wish for your basket, place a line of glue along each overlapping straight edge. Use the paper clips to hold the edges in place until the glue dries. After the cone has dried, make a handle with the strip of paper which reaches from one side of the basket to the opposite side. Place a drop of glue on each end of the handle to fasten it to the basket. Once again hold the handle in place with paper clips until the glue has dried.
Wet a paper towel and wrap it around the ends of your flowers. Place the wrapped end in a sandwich bag or wrap it with plastic wrap. Hold the plastic in place with a small rubber band. Remove the paper clips from your basket and place the wrapped flowers inside the cone.
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Now deliver your May basket to a friend. The handle should be long enough for you to hang it over their door knob if you choose to give it secretly. If you prefer, the May basket can be stapled together rather than held with glue. You can also fill the basket with flowers you make, small candies, or a note of friendship instead. |
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