Even if you have totally forgotten what day it is, you are quickly reminded by pretty little bouquets of lily of the valley flowers. They are for sale on every corner and every few feet all over Paris. It is the first of May!
Tradition has it that King Charles IX in 1561 initiated the custom of offering the divinely perfumed little white flowers to all the ladies of the court.
They are said to bring you happiness, so of course it is hard to resist bringing a bouquet home. You don’t need a large bouquet, just a few sprigs will do.
This lovely custom predates of course what the first of May has been officially designated as Fete de Travaille, or workers day.
The beguiling perfume these tiny little tinkle bells looking flowers give off is wonderfully penetrating and not surprisingly you will find it used to make a lot of perfumes. The forests are full of them all around Paris and free for the plucking , providing you get there a few days before May first.
They are supposed to be fairly easy to grow, as long as you have shade, but I have never tried. They also are said to be toxic if consumed, with cardio affecting properties.
May is a month full of holidays that allows the French to “faire le pont”, meaning they bridge over these days onto the weekend, so as to have extended time off.
I am taking advantage of this myself by heading to the south of France. By the time you are reading this I will be on the beach in Le Lavandou, near St. Tropez trying to soak up some sun that disappeared again in Paris.
Soak up the rays “little May flower” ! Wishing you much sunshine
and rejuvenation. Much rain in LA today. Happy you’re on a holiday
Thank you Anne. Besides the sun, it’s the perfumed air of Provence that is so wonderful here! All day aromatherapy. Will write more about it later. Hugs.