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
Nice flowers but in Dutch they are called "lelietje van dalen". A "sneeuwklokje" is also white but different.
ReplyDeleteAnd, you are forgiven :)
Oh la la.. Still thinking SNOW. The Dutch speaking Belgians also call it Meiklokje. Thank you so much, Peter!
DeleteHallo Anni
ReplyDeleteBedankt voor het mooie boeketje. Wij noemen ze meiklokjes en ze maken mij altijd blij.
Een prettige 1 mei-dag
Elektra
Thanks, Elektra.. Waar zat ik met mijn gedachten?
DeleteDeze 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.
ReplyDeleteMy French teacher gave me some on Friday in readiness for today. Good luck. Diane
ReplyDeleteCiao Anni, trovo bellissima questa tradizione dei mughetti, fiori dolcissimi che mi piacciono tanto. Grazie del bel mazzetto che hai postato. Buon maggio e presto.
ReplyDeleteAntonella
Happy May Day! We don't really celebrate it here!
ReplyDeleteThey are so delicate and so beautiful. Thank you for the May Day bouquet. In Hawai'i it is Lei Day today!
ReplyDeleteHappy May Day Anni, love the Day Lilies..traditions are important and this is a lovely one..
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, Anni! A very Happy May Day to you and I do love the flowers! A lovely tradition indeed! Enjoy!!
ReplyDeleteprachig toch die meiklokjes! vandaag genoten van een dagje cocoonen!
ReplyDeleteliefs, Hilde
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
ReplyDeleteHappy first day of May to you! The Lily tradition is quite nice.
ReplyDeleteHallo Anni,
ReplyDeleteDaarom is het ook een feestdag hé :-)
Groetjes, Frans
in Brussel zijn we wel heel prijzig geworden Anni..
ReplyDeleteprettige dag
Jij mag best eens 'lazy' zijn, Anni... !
ReplyDeleteLie(f)s.
ze ruiken zalig! Een heel mooie traditie!
ReplyDeleteWhat 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.
ReplyDeleteWill have to add 1 May to my list as a good time to visit Belgium.
wat een leuk gebaar op 1 mei. Wij hebben een bosje Maiglöckchen" vroeger op ons confirmatiedag
ReplyDeletegekregen en gedragen. Prachtige bloemetjes zijn het. Ik wens je een fijne zondag Annie en lieve groeten, Dietmut