May Day - The French Way
May Day - à La Française
May Day began as an ancient European spring festival observed on the first of May—the halfway point between the spring equinox and summer solstice.
Traditionally, it’s a day to celebrate springtime with customs like dancing around a maypole and gathering flowers. More recently, many countries recognize May 1st as International Workers' Day, celebrating worker solidarity.
In France, it’s customary to celebrate spring on the first of May with the cheery French tradition known as La Fête du Muguet.
Fête du Muguet
Here’s a quick French lesson: “fête” means party or celebration, and “muguet” is the French word for lily of the valley. Essentially, the French celebrate May Day by gifting lily of the valley bouquets to their loved ones. Every year on May 1st, the tradition continues when lily of the valley flowers are sold tax-free on the street!
The History of the Tradition
Why lilies of the valley, and why May 1st? The tradition to give flowers dates back centuries ago to May 1, 1560, when the knight Louis Girard gifted a bouquet of lilies of the valley to King Charles IX. Ever since, the king would give lilies of the valley to the ladies of his court for luck and prosperity in the coming year.
Today, from the busy paved streets of Paris to the markets in Provence, you can find small vendors on the sides of the road sharing prosperity and good luck to everyone with lilies of the valley bouquets. Springtime at Les Fleurs is also a favorite time to send flowers to loved ones.
En Provence
I still remember remember celebrating La Fête du Muguet during a Provence tour back in 2019, during our stay at the Château de Moissac-Bellevue, when the owners gifted each member of the group with a bouquet of lilies of the valley. It was unforgettable!
Names for Lily of the Valley
You may have heard these bell-shaped flowers referred to as “May bells,” “Mary’s tears,” “Our Lady’s tears,” or “Muguet” in French. No matter what you call them, a lily of the valley by any other name smells as sweet!
We wish you all a happy May Day and a flowerful spring.
xoxo,
Sandra and The Fleurettes
