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May 1st is May Day, did you ever
celebrate?
It began losing
popularity in the 1960s but I was born in the late 60s and I remember
celebrating when I was young.
It was celebrated
by making May baskets. These small baskets were usually filled with flowers or
treats and left at someone's doorstep or hanging from the door knob. The giver would
ring the bell and run away before being caught.
Tradition says that the person
receiving the basket tries to catch the fleeing giver and if caught, a kiss is
exchanged.
We celebrated
with traditional May baskets we made and filled with flowers. We would hang
them on our neighbor’s door knobs, ring the bell (or knock) and run like crazy,
giggling the whole time! Then we would hide and try to see the person finding
the basket without them seeing us!
I’m sure most
everyone knew who was doing it, I can remember an elderly neighbor lady exclaiming
just a little too loudly, “Oh what pretty posies! I wonder WHO could have left
them for me.”
It’s kind of sad to see such an innocent, sweet holiday fade
into history but today’s world seems just a little more dangerous and grumpy.
But if you remember celebrating when you were young maybe
you’d like to make a little basket for yourself to remember it by.
Here is how you can make one... or two for yourself!
Choose a suitable item to become a basket... I chose a cardboard cone and a toilet paper roll. Cover each one with your desired papers, I chose blue polka dot and rose papers along with a paper doily for the cone shaped basket.
Flatten out the bottom portion of the toilet paper tube, punch some holes along the bottom edge and lace up with ribbon to form a basket.
To make a tassel...
Wrap the yarn around your 4 fingers, tie another piece of yarn around the top, folded over section then cut the bottom loops. Fold in half and tie another piece of yarn around the top 1/3 to create the tassel shape.
Glue the tassel to the bottom of the cone (or wherever else you want one!). Line the top edge of your basket with crepe paper. The crepe paper I used came in a roll already cut like this but you could easily make your own. Glue it around the inside edge of your basket top.
Next decorate your basket with little bits and bobs!
I used various scrapbooking ephemera (flowers, butterflies, tiny clothespins, etc.) and some vintage items (tiny mushrooms, a yellow bird candle holder, velvet ribbons, etc.)
I used plastic flowers in my baskets but if you wanted to use them for fresh flowers these would be handy!
Note: If you choose to purchase the water piks with the link above I will earn a small commission but it won't cost you a penny more!
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2 comments
Your May baskets are so sweet! I remember, as a little girl, making and delivering them when my family lived in Wisconsin. It didn't seem to be done in other places where we lived. We made them out of wallpaper, folding it into cones to hold the flowers and adding a ribbon handle. It was fun!
Yes, it's sad this fun tradition has all but faded away. Your little baskets are adorable!
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