May 01, 2013

May 1

On the first day of May, a holiday ( Labor Day), the tradition is  to give a bouquet of  a few Lily of the Valley  (" muguet" in French -  "meiklokje" in Dutch) to mark spring and to wish good luck to your loved ones, family and friends.  
Today, the flowers are everywhere; street vendors offer them at a not so interesting price.. only today, idem in flower shops. They are on tables in restaurants and street cafés,  in peoples hands, hats or hair or in men's lapels. 
I have been lazy this morning and not been out yet.  I hope you forgive my just posting a picture from the net...
"As the story goes, on the first of May 1561, King Charles of France—who was ten at the time—was presented with a fragrant bunch of muguet: the delicate green sprigs capped with tiny white bells that we know as lily of the valley. It was a gesture signifying luck and prosperity, which so touched the king, he continued the tradition by giving the sweet-smelling blossoms to the ladies of his court each year on the same day". http://www.vogue.com/vogue-daily/article/lily-of-the-valley/#1

20 comments:

  1. Nice flowers but in Dutch they are called "lelietje van dalen". A "sneeuwklokje" is also white but different.
    And, you are forgiven :)

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    1. Oh la la.. Still thinking SNOW. The Dutch speaking Belgians also call it Meiklokje. Thank you so much, Peter!

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  2. Hallo Anni
    Bedankt voor het mooie boeketje. Wij noemen ze meiklokjes en ze maken mij altijd blij.
    Een prettige 1 mei-dag
    Elektra

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    1. Thanks, Elektra.. Waar zat ik met mijn gedachten?

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  3. Deze traditie kennen wij niet, bij ons is het de dag van de arbeid. Maar zo heeft iedereen z'n eigen interpretatie van een nieuwe maand.

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  4. My French teacher gave me some on Friday in readiness for today. Good luck. Diane

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  5. Ciao Anni, trovo bellissima questa tradizione dei mughetti, fiori dolcissimi che mi piacciono tanto. Grazie del bel mazzetto che hai postato. Buon maggio e presto.
    Antonella

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  6. Happy May Day! We don't really celebrate it here!

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  7. They are so delicate and so beautiful. Thank you for the May Day bouquet. In Hawai'i it is Lei Day today!

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  8. Happy May Day Anni, love the Day Lilies..traditions are important and this is a lovely one..

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  9. Oh, yes, Anni! A very Happy May Day to you and I do love the flowers! A lovely tradition indeed! Enjoy!!

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  10. prachig toch die meiklokjes! vandaag genoten van een dagje cocoonen!
    liefs, Hilde

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  11. that's a much nicer habit than the one we have in Berlin where people smash each other's cars and shop windows :) happy labour day xxx

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  12. Happy first day of May to you! The Lily tradition is quite nice.

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  13. Hallo Anni,
    Daarom is het ook een feestdag hé :-)
    Groetjes, Frans

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  14. in Brussel zijn we wel heel prijzig geworden Anni..

    prettige dag

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  15. Jij mag best eens 'lazy' zijn, Anni... !
    Lie(f)s.

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  16. ze ruiken zalig! Een heel mooie traditie!

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  17. What a lovely tradition - I didn't know about it, although I was pleased that I remembered what the French is for lily of the valley.
    Will have to add 1 May to my list as a good time to visit Belgium.

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  18. wat een leuk gebaar op 1 mei. Wij hebben een bosje Maiglöckchen" vroeger op ons confirmatiedag
    gekregen en gedragen. Prachtige bloemetjes zijn het. Ik wens je een fijne zondag Annie en lieve groeten, Dietmut

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