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Happy 1st May

(33 Posts)
mokryna Sun 01-May-22 00:43:22

^Back on 1 May 1560, King Charles IX of France was presented with lily of the valley (“muguet” in French) flowers as a lucky charm. The King appreciated the gift so much that he decided to gift the flowers to every lady of his court every year on 1 May. This gesture started to become more commonplace at the beginning of the 20th century with men presenting lily of the valley flowers to women to express their affection.

These days, it has become custom to give a sprig of these flowers as a token of appreciation to close friends and family members on 1er mai.^

Happy 1st May to you all.

mokryna Mon 02-May-22 16:16:51

My DDs at the international school had to be aware when in a history exam whether it was the French or the English one they were writing about.
To meet your Waterloo.

JackyB Mon 02-May-22 08:27:32

We were talking about everything being shut in France on 8 May once where I used to work. My French colleague and I were trying to explain it to our German and Italian workmates.

Reminds me of the old joke about the French tourist in London who wondered why so many places were named after defeats (Waterloo, Trafalgar...)

mokryna Mon 02-May-22 01:36:22

The 8th May is another bank holiday but don’t forget if, as it is this year, they fall on a Sunday tough luck, no extra day is given to récup.
SuperU’s advert could make people feel guilty …. that they haven’t given any yet, another ploy to sell more.

Joseanne Sun 01-May-22 19:34:38

It was SuperU I was thinking of mokryna but now I'm really confused because this magazine cover says 8 mai which is VE day?

Maggiemaybe Sun 01-May-22 19:30:08

What a charming tradition. We’ve been told that before we moved into our house, the front gardens were communal and there were lilies of the valley growing the length of the street. Apparently a couple of the residents didn’t like the scent and dug them all up. shock We’ve tried to grow them again in our garden, but without success.

Trisha57 Sun 01-May-22 19:17:37

maydonoz Yardley do a Lily of the Valley spray eau de toilette. I've worn it for years and buy it from their online shop. Also shower gel and body lotion - gorgeous and quite cheap!

HurdyGurdy Sun 01-May-22 19:11:59

1st of May for me will always be . . .

mokryna Sun 01-May-22 19:05:47

Thank you J52, Jaxjacky I am in England at the moment so they were nice to see.

JackyB Sun 01-May-22 12:21:10

We had our front garden dug up recently to lay cables (hitherto the electricity supply had come from overhead cables.) They replaced the soil with a huge amount of other soil which brought with it lilies of the valley. DH has spent most of spring trying to get rid of them as they are a veritable plague - when they've gone, they'll leave a huge bare patch - right through the middle of the front garden!

I remember learning about the custom of giving muguet posies for mother's Day and the 1st of May. They do have a lovely smell.

dustyangel Sun 01-May-22 10:38:41

Happy 1st May. It used to be the custom here, that country women would gather small bunches of flowers on 1st May and take them to all their neighbours. It’s seems to have been taken over usually by celebrations for Worker’s day on 1st May and this year because it coincides with the Sunday two weeks after Easter there will be a big celebration and procession through town as the statue of the patron saint is taken back to her normal resting place to a chapel on a hill just outside the town.

Oopsadaisy1 Sun 01-May-22 10:36:40

I’ve tried unsuccessfully to grow them here, but my Mum (in Hampshire) had a large area of them growing, I love the smell.

Maybe growing in pots is the answer?

J52 Sun 01-May-22 10:27:30

Thank you. They can take a while to establish, I planted my current crop under an old pear tree about 5 years ago.. They are spreading slowly.

henetha Sun 01-May-22 10:21:58

That's so pretty J52.
I grew up in a house that had a huge swathe of Lily of the Valley every spring, but I've not had much luck in establishing them here, unfortunately.

J52 Sun 01-May-22 10:18:51

Silly me forgot photo!

J52 Sun 01-May-22 10:18:15

Happy May 1st!
My Muguet and Forget me Nots from the garden. So pretty and the perfume is heavenly, even with a few sprays.

mokryna Sun 01-May-22 09:19:40

Joseanne

Such dainty little flowers.
mokryna do the supermarkets still offer them to lady shoppers at the till on 1er mai. I remember them in little funnel packs.

I haven’t been offer them in supermarkets but maybe the market. Children raid their parents garden (I like to think it’s that) and set up stalls to sell them, to earn pocket money. Florist do a brisk business selling one stalk in small pots also. I have tried to grow them on my balcony to no avail. Unfortunately it’s too hot and sunny and they prefer shade

Kim19 Sun 01-May-22 08:32:38

What a lovely history\story. Thank you for sharing that, M. Very interesting. Quite warmed the cockles of my heart.

Newquay Sun 01-May-22 08:31:40

Je viens de recevoir un photo d’un brin de muguet du mari de ma filleule ?
Bon premier mai à tous

Urmstongran Sun 01-May-22 08:19:19

Seeing lily of the valley takes me back to being junior school age in my parent’s rented terraced house in Old Trafford. It had a medium sized garden with two stone steps at the bottom which concealed a very small stone seat, surrounded by shrubs. A veritable ‘secret garden’ for a young child. Mum had planted lily of the valley there and the scent from these beautiful tiny flowers was heavenly. Of course my sister and I had been warned they were poisonous and not to touch which at a young age just added to the magic! Reading your post reminded me Calendargirl. I cannot believe this would be 60y ago now... I’m too young, surely for it to be so many years ago? Frightening to count back.

ShazzaKanazza Sun 01-May-22 08:09:43

Happy 1st of May to you all.
We have a pot of Lily of the Valley in bud just outside the French window. Our neighbour apologised that hers is coming through into our garden but we assured her we are delighted it’s coming through.
It’s so lovely hearing your memories of this delightful flower.

Jaxjacky Sun 01-May-22 07:32:53

Found this picture from those days.

Whitewavemark2 Sun 01-May-22 07:30:30

I was out before 6am walking the dog for an hour and the peace and tranquility was glorious. I was serenaded the whole walk by the birds whilst I took in all the blossom and hedgerow flowers.

Kalu Sun 01-May-22 07:13:40

I remember this gesture with affection. I always bought a sprig for an elderly widowed neighbour when we lived in France. Josette sadly died and I will always associate lily of the valley with this wonderful lady whose company I always enjoyed.

Jaxjacky Sun 01-May-22 07:06:58

I remember this when we lived in France mokryna a charming tradition, our local patron gave them to his female customers.

Calendargirl Sun 01-May-22 07:05:31

Lily of the Valley were in my bouquet when I was May Queen at primary school when I was 7.

Just a whiff takes me back to that day, over 60 years ago.