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In May, do what pleases you ~ bonne fête du muguet!

May 1, 2016 by Patricia Sands 7 Comments

En mai, fais ce qu’il te plait!

Provençal proverb ~ In May, do what pleases you!

2013-06-09 09.51.55Every May 1st I love to talk about one of my favourite traditions in France ~ La Fête du Travail or La Fête du Muguet. The day is a national holiday, but more than that it is an occasion when people give little bouquets or sprigs or pots of  le muguet (lily of the valley) to each other. When I first began blogging, I read a post by my friend, the talented writer/reviewer Claire McAlpine and I like to share her story each year. It’s sweet and explains the tradition so well.

Please click here to read it, and here’s my bouquet to you!

This time last year, my husband and I had just finished a magical stay (but then isn’t it always?) in Paris and the Loire Valley. We were driving south to the Dordogne region and in every town, big or small, this was the scene. Even on a drizzly day. I loved it!

Dordogne and Les Muguets

Dordogne and Les Muguets 2

Dordogne and Les Muguets - Version 2

Obviously, young or old, everyone puts a lot of thought into this tradition.

Le muguet or lily of the valley represents a porte bonheur, a good luck charm, to special people in your life.  Sing along!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gUToHvv8rI

Does your culture or country have a special May 1st tradtion?

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Filed Under: Blog, France, News, Social issues, Uncategorized, Writing Tagged With: France, good luck charm, la fête de muguet, labor day, May 1, Patricia Sands, porte bonheur, proverb

About Patricia Sands

Family, writing and travel are my passions ... okay, and chocolate ... and I'm seldom without a camera. I write women's fiction and keep in touch with readers by a monthly newsletter that also has giveaways and contests. Come and join us by signing up on the right. See you there!

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Comments

  1. Margaret says

    May 1, 2016 at 3:35 am

    Oh, I used to love this day when we lived in France. Here, teh lilies of teh valley are weeks from flowering. Way too cold. Brrrr!

    Reply
    • Patricia Sands says

      May 1, 2016 at 9:43 am

      It’s such a lovely simple thought, isn’t it? That really didn’t become so clear to me until we drove through towns and villages last year and experienced the tradition everywhere. One clear image I’ve retained is a woman of a certain age sitting, bent over, on a folding chair next to a small table. The table held bunches of muguets (I presumed from her garden) and the woman was holding her umbrella in the pouring rain. We were passing by full tilt in the car and gone in a flash before I could even lift my camera. I’ll never forget her.

      Oh, and the same here with the weather, Margaret! We are losing patience with spring’s late arrival in Toronto. Bon 1er mai!

      Reply
  2. Darlene Foster says

    May 1, 2016 at 8:41 am

    What a lovely tradition! No lilies of the valley in Spain but lots of other flowers to enjoy. Just returned from Holland where the tulips were in abundance!!

    Reply
    • Patricia Sands says

      May 1, 2016 at 9:44 am

      Holland must have been brilliant! Did you visit Keukenhof?

      Reply
      • Darlene Foster says

        May 2, 2016 at 3:29 am

        Yes, I did make it to Keukenhof and it was amazing!!

        Reply
  3. Miss Diane says

    May 1, 2016 at 8:55 am

    Quelle belle tradition! Malheureusement elle n’a pas cours au Québec car le muguet ne fera son apparition qu’en juin. Bonne journée Patricia et bonne journée du muguet, où que vous soyez! ?

    Reply
    • Patricia Sands says

      May 1, 2016 at 9:52 am

      Merci, Diane. Je vous donne un porte bonheur!

      Reply

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