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What is May Day?

Knock, knock. Who's there? A May Day Basket filled with Flowers!

 

May Day holds wonderful memories for me. I attended Allen Elementary in Wichita, KS and we would spend May Day square dancing and twirling around a maypole, interlacing colorful ribbons down the May Day pole. In fact, they still hold their Annual May Day celebration.  That is how most of us remember May Day, but do you know what May Day is actually all about? 

 

May Day traditions can be found as far back as the 1800s and early 1900s.  The first day of May would be celebrated by hanging a basket of flowers on a neighbor’s doorknob, ringing the doorbell, and dashing. Doordash was even a thing back then!  Tillie's started a similar floral act of kindness during the pandemic, calling this “Ding Dong Ditch” your neighbor with flowers.  People were stressed during the lockdown, so we suggested to Ding Dong Ditch your neighbor with flowers.  Flowers are scientifically proven to reduce stress, so it was a simple act of kindness to promote in April 2019, when we are all stuck in our homes.  It was a fun experience for kids during the pandemic.  A kid shared with me that he was about to do the greatest sneak attack ever!  Kids got to ding dong ditch their neighbors by placing flowers on the doorstep, knocking on the door, and dashing away before they can be found out.  

May Day baskets can be as impressive or simple as the giver wishes, it is truly about the kind act and that the giver took time and effort to create the basket (or buy it already designed) with care and good intention. Traditionally, a May basket may be filled with what is found growing in the yard.  Tulips and daffodils are starting to bloom, and if you are lucky maybe a few peonies.  A preschool activity is often creating cones out of decorated paper and filling them with blooms that have been purchased or cut out of the garden.  Typically, we deliver about fifty May Day baskets throughout Wichita and surrounding cities.  We take a small white basket and fill it with yellow and white daisies.  These baskets can be found sitting on the recipient’s porch step. We hope you take the time to surprise someone on May Day with flowers!

May Day Flowers Blog by Tillie's Flowers - Your Wichita Florist