Tuesday, May 1, 2012

May Day



My mother would tell me about picking flowers as a child in Spring Valley, Wisconsin, and leaving them in handmade paper baskets on neighbors’ doorsteps, as offerings for May Day.

There are many rituals to mark the day around the world—everything from leis to caps to lemonade to maypoles to lilies of the valley to morris dancing to Flower Boat Ceremonies to bathing in the morning dew or sea to hobby horses and accordions to motorbikes and madrigals to barbeque breakfasts to foxtrots to kisses.  And of course it’s also International Workers’ Day (the day of St. Joseph the Worker).

I’d love to leave flowers on the doorstep of everyone who has touched my heart this year, to cheer them in return.  Here are some flowers I place lovingly on the virtual doorstep, to say—always inadequately—thank you, and happy May Day!

(And happy May Day, Mama—I miss you.)




image:  Christie B. Cochrell, Gift of Flowers


No comments:

Post a Comment