First Of May - Lucky Day

A lily of the valley in my garden
By Anna
@LadyDuck (458233)
Switzerland
May 1, 2016 6:31am CST
Today 1st of May, is the International Labor Day, in most European countries. When I lived in France, men used to offer a spring of lily of the valley to women, as a lucky charm. This is a tradition, dating back the year 1561. The King Charles IX, received a spring of lily of the valley from a chevalier. He was so pleased by the gesture that, from that day on, he offered a bouquet of these lovely flowers to every lady, as a lucky charm. The tradition remained through the times. In my garden the lilies of the valley are in bloom. I suppose I can consider that this is a sign of good luck for the rest of the year. Do you have traditions to share for this first day of May?
70 people like this
76 responses
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 May 16
I don't think I do. We used to have a weed called 'onion week' and it was quite smelly but the flowers were very like lily of the valley flowers.
6 people like this
@vandana7 (98830)
• India
1 May 16
@LadyDuck ..I have only seen them on greeting cards. :) Look pretty alright. :)
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (458233)
• Switzerland
1 May 16
There are small white flowers similar to the lily of the valley that smell like garlic, but the lily of the valley flowers have a wonderful smell.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 May 16
@LadyDuck It was the not-nice smelly ones that grew wild at one of our houses.
4 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
1 May 16
When my children were little we would pick the roses that were blooming in Kansas by May first and sneak them to our neighbors back steps for a May Day Basket. We used jars not baskets and our neighbors (elderly) loved it...
4 people like this
@marsha32 (6631)
• United States
1 May 16
Does anyone do this anymore?? She has brought back many good memories for me with this post.
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@vandana7 (98830)
• India
1 May 16
Oh ..so sweet..beautiful...coming from the heart of little children...:)
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@LadyDuck (458233)
• Switzerland
1 May 16
It's a bit early for the roses, I have seen the buds, I think they will bloom in about a week.
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@allknowing (130064)
• India
1 May 16
Today being a Sunday there is not much significance noticed as otherwise it is declared a holiday as here also it is known as labour day.
3 people like this
@allknowing (130064)
• India
1 May 16
@LadyDuck We call it the labour and your lilies are divine
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@LadyDuck (458233)
• Switzerland
1 May 16
This year the workers have not been lucky, the 1st of May is on Sunday, more luck next year. Do you also call the day "Labor Day" or "International Workers Day".?
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (458233)
• Switzerland
1 May 16
@allknowing Thank you, I think that most countries call it "Labor Day".
1 person likes this
• Preston, England
1 May 16
the traditional may day maypole dance is in decline though the nearest Monday to Mayday is a bank holiday here
4 people like this
• Preston, England
1 May 16
@Ruby3881 the full dance is lovely to see
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@LadyDuck (458233)
• Switzerland
1 May 16
In the north they still have the maypole dance tradition, but not here.
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@Ruby3881 (1963)
• Canada
1 May 16
I haven't danced a May Pole in forever! It's not common here in Canada, outside of the Pagan community.
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@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
1 May 16
Sorry other than children giving little baskets of wild flowers anonymously to neighbors that is all we have ever done.
4 people like this
@vandana7 (98830)
• India
1 May 16
Yeah...a couple of people seem to have done that...but I wish it had survived and spread.
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@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
1 May 16
@LadyDuck I suspeact that this may be an old English tradition.
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@LadyDuck (458233)
• Switzerland
1 May 16
There is not this nice tradition here in Switzerland and there is nothing that I can remember in my native country.
2 people like this
@Juliaacv (48447)
• Canada
1 May 16
I do not have any traditions that I am aware of for the first of May, other then religiously, it is considered to be a month to devote to the Blessed Mother, Mary. I love lilies of the valley, we had them on our wedding invitations.
4 people like this
@Juliaacv (48447)
• Canada
1 May 16
@LadyDuck Labour Day in Canada is the first Monday of September, and it celebrates the workers. Today celebrates a month of workers, but nowadays they tend to focus on the health and safety aspect for the workers. Any day that a worker either doesn't return from work or comes home injured is something that the legislation is working to move away from. My husband is an Environment, Health & Safety Administrator.
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (458233)
• Switzerland
1 May 16
Yes, for Catholics May is the month of the Virgin Mary. Do you celebrate the Labor Day the same day as the Americans?
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (458233)
• Switzerland
1 May 16
@Juliaacv Thank you.
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@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
1 May 16
Surely if this is celebrated in most European countries then it should not be spelled the American way.
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@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
1 May 16
@LadyDuck Working is not very popular in England.
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@LadyDuck (458233)
• Switzerland
1 May 16
I imagine that In the U.K, you call it "International Workers' Day". In France it's "FĂȘte du Travail" and in Italy "Festa del Lavoro". I do not know the other English speaking countries how call it.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (458233)
• Switzerland
1 May 16
@Asylum Not even in Italy and this year they must be very unhappy that the 1st of May is a Sunday.
1 person likes this
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
1 May 16
To me May 1st is just another day. There is nothing specical about today.
2 people like this
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
1 May 16
@vandana7 Could be but I don't know that.
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (98830)
• India
1 May 16
Why Marcy...you don't have a holiday on May 1st? It is supposed to be International Labor day..right?
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@LadyDuck (458233)
• Switzerland
1 May 16
I know that in the United States the Labor Day is the first Monday of September.
1 person likes this
@Shavkat (137215)
• Philippines
1 May 16
In my country, we don't have special practices. The local regular employees would enjoy the holiday and spend more time with the family. Thank you for sharing this information.
3 people like this
@vandana7 (98830)
• India
1 May 16
Quit like our world. :)
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (458233)
• Switzerland
2 May 16
@vandana7 We were right not to go to Italy for a day trip, the protesters have invaded the major cities... as usual.
@LadyDuck (458233)
• Switzerland
1 May 16
I have read that in many European countries there are special events, but we prefer to stay at home.
2 people like this
@DWDavis (25812)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
1 May 16
We, my family that is, don't have any Special May 1st traditions. I do remember how the Soviet Union used stage huge parades on May Day to celebrate International Labor by marching missiles, tanks, and troops past the Kremlin.
2 people like this
@vandana7 (98830)
• India
1 May 16
I think that was ugly.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25812)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
2 May 16
@LadyDuck If the gap between rich and poor keeps growing, I fear those days may return, perhaps not in Europe, but here in the US there is a growing atmosphere of discontent and anger among the working class.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (458233)
• Switzerland
1 May 16
I remember that there were special events in several European countries, but in our days they are fading.
1 person likes this
• United States
1 May 16
I think the only May 1st traditions I know of were from when I was a kid - we celebrated May Day at church when I went to Catholic school -wow, that was a long time ago.
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (458233)
• Switzerland
1 May 16
I remember that it has always been a national holiday even in Italy, but I do not remember 1st of May traditions there.
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@LadyDuck (458233)
• Switzerland
1 May 16
@AbbyGreenhill I cannot remember the first of May as a religious tradition for Catholics. I am Catholic and we celebrate nothing today.
1 person likes this
• United States
1 May 16
@LadyDuck I think it's more a religious tradition than anything else.
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@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
1 May 16
Is that a photo of your own lily of the valley? I've not heard of that tradition.
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@vandana7 (98830)
• India
1 May 16
You all have any in UK?
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@LadyDuck (458233)
• Switzerland
2 May 16
Yes Janet, this is a photo of one of my lily of the valley. It was cloudy yesterday, but I went out to take a photo, there were only four already blooming.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
1 May 16
@vandana7 Oh yes, there are plenty here. I remember there was a large patch of them in my grandmother's garden.
2 people like this
@Lucky15 (37346)
• Philippines
1 May 16
Lovely white.flower
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (458233)
• Switzerland
1 May 16
They have a wonderful smell too.
1 person likes this
@Lucky15 (37346)
• Philippines
1 May 16
@LadyDuck really? Wow!
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@vandana7 (98830)
• India
1 May 16
I thought so too. :)
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@miniam (9154)
• Bern, Switzerland
1 May 16
Anna they look lovely and the photo is so well taken.Thanks so much for sharing
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@LadyDuck (458233)
• Switzerland
1 May 16
Thank you, I went outside to take the photo, but unfortunately there is no sun. It's raining right now.
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@LadyDuck (458233)
• Switzerland
1 May 16
@miniam I have no intention to go out, it's too cold for a walk.
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@miniam (9154)
• Bern, Switzerland
1 May 16
@LadyDuck The weather here is not better either,dark and gray outside with some rain.Staying indoors the whole day.
2 people like this
@karjatwala (1120)
• Pune, India
2 May 16
1st May is also the formation day of the state I live in "Maharashtra" a state in India. so here it is locally also known as "Maharashtra Day".
1 person likes this
• Pune, India
2 May 16
@LadyDuck Well, it is a holiday for all workers, but this year it being a Sunday, the workers lost a holiday.....
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@LadyDuck (458233)
• Switzerland
2 May 16
@karjatwala Exactly, the workers this year have not been lucky.
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@LadyDuck (458233)
• Switzerland
2 May 16
I am glad to learn something new. I imagine you celebrate this day.
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@marlina (154166)
• Canada
1 May 16
I have a tradition with my husband on the first of each month. I love the lily of the valley, but ours are not blooming yet.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (458233)
• Switzerland
1 May 16
It happened only one year that they did not bloom in time for the first of May. This year they are in time.
2 people like this
@vandana7 (98830)
• India
1 May 16
We have something called may flower...but this is different... In our home also we have a tradition on 1st of each month...start paying bills..lol
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@LadyDuck (458233)
• Switzerland
2 May 16
@vandana7 LOL, paying bills is not funny. I always pay bills by the end of the month.
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
1 May 16
there was something about giving out May baskets to senior citizens
2 people like this
@vandana7 (98830)
• India
1 May 16
Wow...I wish they'd start something like that out here..nice thinking..whoever did that.
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@LadyDuck (458233)
• Switzerland
1 May 16
I never heard something like this. We did nothing in Italy, just celebrate the Labor Day.
1 person likes this
@imravi (2337)
• India
1 May 16
In India there is nothing like this tradition....I hope we had something like that......;)
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@LadyDuck (458233)
• Switzerland
1 May 16
Do you celebrate the first of May? May be with other traditions.
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@imravi (2337)
• India
1 May 16
@LadyDuck nope....
1 person likes this
• United States
1 May 16
When I was little, kids in school were taught to dance around the May Pole. No one does anything about May Day anymore here. Work, work, work. Holidays are rare and vacations rarer.
2 people like this
@vandana7 (98830)
• India
1 May 16
Sad but true..
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (458233)
• Switzerland
1 May 16
I think that you celebrate the Labor Day on the first Monday of September. People now do not celebrate as in the old days, too busy with the stressful life.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
1 May 16
Those white lilies are lovely.
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@vandana7 (98830)
• India
1 May 16
True..:)
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (458233)
• Switzerland
1 May 16
I love their smell, is so good.
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