May Day is one of my favorite holidays.
As a child, I thought that making little vases, filling them with flowers, and ding-dong dashing them on neighbors’ porches was the greatest thing ever.
We would create paper cones, fill them with any flowers we could find (usually dandelions) and proudly carry them to houses where the moms would pretend to be surprised and delighted while we hid in the bushes. It was blissful.
I never outgrew that magical feeling and I often sneak flowers onto my neighbors’ doors when I have an overabundance of blooms (I’m talking to you, hydrangeas!).
PC: Ann Kirsten
As with many of our holidays, May Day began as a pagan day. Later, it evolved into a day to honor Laborers’ rights, but eventually it became a celebration of Spring’s arrival and that’s the way it is usually celebrated today.
When my oldest was in kindergarten, her creative teacher made a Maypole and spent weeks teaching the kids the ribbon-weaving dance to go along with it. The parents came to watch them perform, and perform they did, by getting themselves all tied up together in a big ball of knotted ribbons. I don’t think that poor teacher ever attempted a Maypole dance again.
If you want to catch some May Day magic, here are some May Day basket ideas. Whether you make them yourself (you’re never too old) or have a craft day with your kids, I think you’ll agree, the arrival of Spring deserves to be celebrated!
PAPER CONE
PC: Ann Kirsten
You’ll need a square piece of paper (about 8”). You can use decorative paper or have your kids draw on a plain piece of paper. Place the square diagonally towards you (like a kite) with the printed side down. Roll the left point over the middle in a cone shape and then pull the right point over the top. Tape into place. Punch holes in the top for a handle. You can roll around a pencil to get started. Fill with flowers.
VASE AND RIBBON
PC: Ann Kirsten
This one is easy. Find a small bud vase at a thrift shop. Tie a string or a ribbon around the top to make a handle and fill it with water and flowers.
TIN CAN
PC: Ann Kirsten
This is an old classic. Canned vegetables were served with almost every dinner in my day, so tin cans were plentiful. We poked holes in the top with a hammer and a nail and then tied string on the top. Wrap pretty paper around the can for an added touch.
BUCKET
PC: Ann Kirsten
Stores have lots of buckets available right now for their summer displays. I found this one for $1.29. Get creative with the fillers. I added gardening gloves and some seed packets to this one.
OTHER IDEAS:
- Tie twine on a peat pot with a plant inside. Your gardening friends will love it.
- Fill a small berry basket with some fresh fruit. Tie a ribbon through the holes to hang.
- Punch holes in a paper coffee cup and tie string for a handle. Pop in some flowers and a coffee card.
- Make lollipop flowers! Cut a flower shape out of cardstock, poke a hole in the middle and put a sucker in for the flower’s center. Make a whole bouquet!
PC: Ann Kirsten
- Put small toys in a basket for the kids in your life. Hang the May Day basket on their bedroom door.
No matter how you celebrate Spring’s arrival:
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him,
so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
– Romans 15:13 –
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Read more of Ann’s contributions to AllMomDoes here.
