May Day in France is quite different from May Day in the US. No little kids leaving small bouquets by front doors, ringing doorbells, and running away here. (Do they still do that in the US?)
In France, May 1st
is Labor Day, La Fête du Travail, a serious national holiday! It is the only day of the year when employees
are legally obliged to be given leave (except for some professions that cannot
be interrupted, like in hospitals for example). And, if May 1st
falls on a Thursday, as it does this year, most workers are also expected to take the following day, Friday, May 2nd, off to "faire le pont" (“create
a bridge” to include the following day to make a long weekend).
In France, May 1st is also linked to
muguets, Lillies of the Valley. Offering a little muguet in spring was actually common
way back in medieval times, but it became official May 1st, 1561, when King
Charles IX, having received a sprig himself, decided to return the gesture and
offer the flower to every lady in his court.
It’s a tradition that really caught on! In preparation for May Day, Muguets are for
sale everywhere, in grocery stores, farmers’ markets, on street corners –
everywhere. (Although, we have not seen as many street vendors in Lyon as in the past.) According to Le Figaro, over 60 million brins or sprigs of muguets
are sold in France every year, representing an official market of around €24
million, and if you take into account the many street vendors, the unofficial
figure is likely four times as high.
We have always made it a point to get muguets
when we are in Lyon. At first we would just buy sprigs and put them into a vase, but lately we've purchased small plants since we like to enjoy them longer. Afterall, they
bring good luck! This year Anna bought
hers from her favorite “plant and flower lady” in our local farmers’ Marché.
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| Our 2025 Muguets |
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