April Showers Bring May Day Flowers - Spreading Baskets And Bouquets Of Kindness

Every year as winter fades and spring temps, sunshine, and flowers arrive, I smilingly give a nod of thanks to the late George Harrison. 

Sometimes, as I’m Spring cleaning my home - washing windows and wiping down walls - warmly anticipating the aroma of fresh cut grass and the 90-degree summer’s kiss of heat felt on my skin, I even sing to myself…

“Little darling, it’s been a long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it’s been here. Little darling, the smiles returning to their faces. Little darling it seems like years since it’s been here. Here comes the sun…” 

What about you? 

Once spring arrives, signaling warmer temps, outdoor activities, and brightly colored blooms, does this shift from the cold and often dreary months uplift your mood and brighten your smile? 

The older I get, the more I deeply appreciate so much of what surrounds us in the spring and summer months.

Children’s laughter fills the outdoor air once again, smiles are more abundant, neighbors stop to say hello as they’re out walking their pups…bouquets and baskets of freshly cut flowers appear at your door on the first day of May! 

Wait, what? Baskets of flowers appear at your door? 

Yes, that’s right!

There’s truly little that tops the arrival of budding trees and fragrant blooming flowers this time of year, but how long has it been since you’ve given or received a bouquet, vase, or basket of freshly cut blooms? 

As warm air, timely showers, and abundant sunlight prompt the unearthing of these beauties, everything around us communicates renewal, growth, gratitude, and pure joy!

And, beginning in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, many in the United States celebrated the arrival of warmer months and fragrant blooms by gifting baskets of flowers and small treats to neighbors and friends on May 1st, a special time known as May Day. 

Today, while some still celebrate this tradition, for the most part, May Day seems to be a dying custom; however, in the spirit of spreading warmth, kindness, and joy, all while celebrating the spring and summer seasons, we’d like to propose a challenge to revive this kind, beautiful, and thoughtful floral-themed practice!

So, let’s learn a bit more about the roots of this seemingly curious holiday, including some ways you can celebrate May Day in modern times as well as how this tradition could benefit both those who give and receive blooms on May Day and beyond!

May Day History

Traditionally, May Day, or May 1st, marks the halfway point between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. 

Many trace the first celebrations of May Day to European countries, where springtime festivities were planned to celebrate the agricultural significance of the first sprouts visible across farmers’ fields. 

Some of these festivals included cattle drives, others involved bonfires with singing and dancing, some traditionally danced around a Maypole holding onto colorful ribbons, and others “brought in May” by weaving together crowns of wildflowers and green branches fit for the festival queen and king. 

Still others honored this warm and uplifting seasonal shift by cutting some of spring’s floral offerings to give to neighbors and friends. 

In the US, this tradition often centered around the placement of a basket of wildflowers on a neighbor's door post, with some literary works even romanticizing the practice, describing it as a practice America's youth would partake in to bestow flowers on a love interest. 

One Massachusetts newspaper reported on such an event in 1889, telling the story of “a young man who got up very early and walked a mile and a half to hang a basket on his sweetheart’s door, only to find another basket from another beau already hanging there.” 

In 1925, two adventurous young children were said to have hung May Day baskets on the front door of the White House! 

Even as late as the 1970’s Americans continued this custom of bestowing a bit of spring warmth and joy upon their friends and neighbors through floral baskets and doorpost gifts on May Day. 

Unfortunately, this practice has seemingly come to an end in most parts of the country. 

Some have even described this custom as curious or odd, describing such traditions as fitting for a time when our nation seemed, perhaps, more innocent. 

What do you think? 

Is May Day something you’ve known about for some time? Is it something you currently practice? 

And could it be true that the practice of giving flowers to your friends and neighbors on May 1st is a custom too-innocent for today’s culture? 

Personally, I say “no way.”

Kindness is something that never goes out of style. 

And, thoughtful gifts and gestures, such as preparing a basket or bouquet of flowers for your neighbors, friends, or loved ones, is a practice we could all benefit from! 

We’ll get to those benefits in a moment, but first, imagine with me for a moment…what would, or could, the revival of May Day look like today?

May Day Today

Maybe some deem May Day to be a curious practice simply because we typically don’t make baskets to display flowers any longer, hanging them on the doorknobs of neighbors. 

But, who says May Day must look exactly like this? 

And, with this question in mind, I have a few suggestions to share with you in our efforts to bring back this beautiful, fragrant, kind, and friendly springtime tradition…

1- Embrace May Day Intentionally

If you’d like to authentically celebrate the tradition of May Day, that halfway point between the spring equinox and the summer solstice, keeping true to the original practice, here’s a few ways you can do so, showing kindness to those around you: 

• Buy, search your closets/basements, or hand-make a vessel or basket. This can be an old basket you’re not using any longer. This can be a vase. Or, this can be a basket-like vessel you’ve made on your own. I’ve seen newspaper or parchment paper wrapped around a bouquet for this gesture, and I’ve also seen small tin cans wrapped in decorated paper for this purpose as well. 
• Pick wildflowers or blooms from your garden to share. 
• Pack the basket, vase, or hand-made vessel with wildflowers, tulips, daffodils, etc. 
• If you’d like, add small items such as candies and/or other small goodies to the basket or container.
• Add a kind note or choose to bestow this gift anonymously. 
• Place the basket, vase, or container on your neighbor or friend’s front porch, preferably hanging it from their doorknob (in traditional May Day fashion) on the morning of May 1st.
  

2- Celebrate May Day Organically

One way to revive the spirit of kindness behind May Day, while celebrating this often-anticipated change of seasons, is to do so organically. 

In other words, just let it happen. 

At the heart of this tradition, other than the celebration of spring and summer, is kindness. 

And, spreading kindness to our neighbors, friends, family, and to the world at large, is something we can always use more of in today’s world and tomorrow’s!

So, when you’re tending your garden and gathering some fresh blooms in the process, plan to give a bundle (randomly) to someone on your street. 

When gathering wildflowers, plan to brighten a friend's day by dropping by unexpectedly with a cup of coffee and a bouquet. 

You might be surprised just how much a few blooms can bring joy to others! 

Last summer as I was clipping a few blooms in my front flower bed, I noticed our neighbor’s little girl was watching me. 

She’s about 4 years old, and I can’t tell you the joy she shared with me as her face truly lit up when I asked her “would you like some of these pink flowers, some yellow ones, or both?” 

She smiled from ear to ear, and insisted, “only the pink ones…pink is my favorite…but my mom might like the yellow ones.” 

Her mother told me she treasured those flowers long after they died. 

What she doesn’t know, however, is how much sunshine she brought to my heart by simply receiving them with a smile. 

So, plan to infuse floral gifts, even spontaneous ones, into your routine practices, your daily duties, and watch how regularly spreading kindness in this way brightens your corner of the world!

3- Celebrate The Spirit Behind May Day Continually

Personally, I find the celebration of May Day to showcase two things - gratitude and joy or kindness. 

As the bitter winter months fade and such celebrations of daylight, warmth, renewal, growth, and happiness occur, what we’re really doing is showing gratitude for what’s to come, for natural change, and so much more! 

Many years ago, such celebrations reminded folks of the first signs of the fruit of farming labors, much like a prequel to harvest celebrations. 

But, these traditions also, in celebrating the time of year where we typically spend more time outdoors around friends and neighbors, remind us of these connections we have…or could have…with others in our community. 

And, that’s why these traditions are important, or rather the notion of spreading kindness through such gestures. 

So, why let it only occur on May 1st? 

May Day is certainly a start, but as flowers commonly bloom all throughout the warmer months, think of the joy and kindness you could share by continuing the practice of gifting such blooms all throughout the season!

4- Celebrate Kindness Innocently

Perhaps the greatest picture representing the kind and happy gesture of giving flowers to others can be seen in the actions of children. 

Have you ever received a freshly picked bouquet of flowers from a young child?

Personally, I have a hard time finding anything more accurately depicting an innocent and pure act of showing love and true kindness than this. 

A small child looks at the world through eyes of innocence, and as they gaze at the new colors brought to life by springtime temps and sunshine, brightly hued blooms seem to inherently signify something of value to children. 

The dandelions we deem as weeds, as something that needs to be eradicated from our perfectly manicured yards, are things of great prize to a child. 

And this prize, this beautiful offering, is something young children commonly view as a wholly appropriate and deeply heartfelt gift, a gesture of love and gratitude for others. 
Truly, this is how I hope we can all view such gifts. 

If you’ve not seen wildflowers or your blooming garden gems in this light, I challenge you to view May Day and the notion of floral gifts through the eyes of a child, as something to graciously share with others in hopes to brighten their day. 

And, in all actuality, if you really think about it, not only does this practice positively impact the person on the receiving end of such a gesture, but the giver of these blooms also experiences the same uplifting feeling. 

So, let’s close out this discussion taking a closer look at how May Day, and floral gifting gestures in general, can positively impact both the giver and receiver of beautiful blooms.

Positive Impacts Of Giving And/Or Receiving Flowers

When someone is ill, in the hospital, or recovering from any type of surgery, even those moms who are bringing home a bundle of joy, we commonly bring bouquets or arrangements of flowers to express care and love. 

And, whether you’ve been on the giving or receiving end of this practice, you know how much this gesture can brighten someone’s day. 

The same is true, as we’ve certainly seen today, of giving flowers for May Day or any other day, especially during the spring and summer months when blooms are abundant. 

But do we realize just how deep this mood lifting, smile inducing, positive impacts are? 

There have been many studies conducted on the effects of flowers pertaining to emotions, feelings, mental health, physical health, and more. 

Here are just a few of the findings…

1- Color, Fragrance, And Feelings

Studies have shown that both the colors of flowers and their fragrance evoke feelings of happiness, satisfaction, and positivity on the recipient of the flowers. 

Did you get that? 

No, I’m not referring to the flowers alone here. 

Note, ‘the recipient.’

So, the act of giving or being gifted a bouquet, even a single bloom, combined with the colors and fragrance of flowers brings happiness, satisfaction, and positive feelings to those you’ve chosen to grace with such a gift. 

In other words, seeing and smelling fragrant blooms has positive impacts, but actually receiving blooms as a gift grants an even deeper impact of these benefits.

2- Color, Fragrance, And Health

Did you know that floral colors have different meanings than colors in general? 

Did you know that floral fragrances can translate to a variety of health benefits? 
As for color: 

• Red typically denotes feelings of anger or precaution, but with florals, red signifies love or passion. 
• Yellow florals (and other bright floral hues) are most associated with feelings of happiness, and these most commonly are viewed as great mood-lifters. 
• A range of blue floral hues can aid in feelings of calmness, promoting stress relief. 

As for fragrance: 

• The simple act of smelling flowers reduces cortisol levels in the body thereby reducing stress, helping you feel less anxious and more relaxed. 
• The act of smelling flowers also prompts the release of endorphins which serves to make you feel happy, improving your mood. 
• One specific example with amplified benefits: Lavender is commonly grown as a wildflower, and breathing in the fragrance of this flower can reduce stress, lower your heart rate and blood pressure, boost mental health, and help you sleep better!
  

3- The Act Of Giving

When you take the time to cut or pluck flowers with the intention to present the blooms as a gift to a neighbor, friend, or loved one, research confirms that this act, specifically this type of gift, also brings benefit to you, the giver. 

When giving flowers, this has a profoundly positive impact on your mood. 

And, the act of arranging, bundling, or preparing flowers to give away can have a calming effect, even lowering your heart rate and blood pressure. 

You’ll even receive the gift of joy by simply showing kindness to others through the act of giving.

4- Receiving Flowers

When you give someone a basket, vase, or loosely tied bouquet of flowers this can serve to strengthen your bond with such individuals. 

And, for those on the receiving end of such a gift, feelings of loneliness are relieved, oxytocin is boosted resulting in improved mood, and overall feelings of love and happiness are amplified.

5- Happy For The Long Haul

You may only be giving a bouquet of flowers to your neighbor on May 1st…or May 15th, June 7th, June 30th, July 4th (any bloom-filled spring or summer day)...but this specific kind of gift is truly one which brings benefits for days, weeks, even months to come. 

Studies have shown that the positive benefits pertaining to mood (when giving and receiving flowers) are long term. 

Specifically, those who received flowers in one large study “reported feeling less depressed, anxious, and agitated after receiving flowers, and demonstrated a higher sense of enjoyment and life satisfaction.” 

Another universal reaction to giving and receiving flowers, across all ages, was extraordinary delight and gratitude…yes, from flowers. 

Even better? Delivering blooms with a heartfelt smile can amplify these benefits! 

So, what do you say? 

I’m ready to revive May Day, even extending such gestures all throughout the flower-blooming spring and summer seasons - will you join me?

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References:

https://www.almanac.com/content/what-may-day

https://www.npr.org/sections/npr-history-dept/2015/04/30/402817821/a-forgotten-tradition-may-basket-day

https://www.southernliving.com/culture/may-day-baskets#

https://abqhospital.com/the-power-of-flowers-on-feelings/

https://figandbloom.com/blogs/news/impact-of-flowers-on-mental-health