30 April 2007

Muguet for the first of May

A lovely tradition in France takes place each year on the 1st May, when a sprig or small pot of Lily of the Valley is offered to friends and family - for luck.

I lived for a year in Pyrénées when I first came to France, and there the bus drivers give every female passenger a sprig on the 1st May. I don't believe this happens on the Côte d'Azur but someone might correct me. I hope they do. A lovely idea.

So, a sprig of muguet for YOU for tomorrow - and may it bring you luck for the rest of the year.

(This post is one day early because tomorrow is DP Theme Day.)

10 comments:

  1. oh thank you!!
    That's so nice! =)

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  2. I wish you could see the lily of the valley we have growing here around our air conditioner. It is a very large area and is just beginning to bloom. I will send you a picture when it is all blooming. It is a lovely flower my wife likes a lot. I like your photograph and the flowers and the explanation of the May 1st event.

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  3. Anonymous01 May, 2007

    Thank you so much! This flower and it`s perfume are most loved in Finland, they are blooming here after one month.
    I did not know about this habit until Michel from France told me that just few hours ago! It`s very beautiful tradition.
    Michel`s photos from Joensuu are now in my post.
    I wish you a best May ever!

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  4. Don't they smell divine?

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  5. Ah le muguet! J'adore, et c'est si typiquement francais, cette tradition du 1er mai!

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  6. Thank you. I love the smell of Lily of the Valley. And I think any time we celebrate friendship and saying Thank You to people we see every day is a good thing.

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  7. Thank you, a great way to celebrate friendship. Also thank you very much for your nice comment on Istanbul Daily Photo's 100'th post...

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  8. Happy May Day to you, too. Click on this to get your May Day surprise!

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  9. What a lovely tradition!

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  10. That is a lovely tradition - I've been learning so many things since I started this daily photo blog, definitely an added bonus! - chris

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