Celebrate May Day With May Baskets

May Day is the perfect holiday to celebrate during our time in quarantine. All you need to do is leave someone a May basket and then be on your merry way! Often overlooked, the May Day holiday (this Friday) used to be celebrated in communities across America. The fun (and timely) point in anonymously leaving a May basket at the door of a relative, friend or neighbor is to trot away without having been seen. Bringing May baskets back is a perfectly inspired way to let your peeps know you're thinking about them from a safe distance. 

The May 1st tradition of welcoming the arrival of warmer weather in the Northern Hemisphere dates back many hundreds of years and has been observed in different ways. In Medieval times people danced around a maypole, a pole decorated with ribbons and streamers, and placed baskets of flowers at the base in what historians believe was a fertility ritual. A more recent way to celebrate is by leaving a May basket. A May basket is something to be hung on the door or left on the porch. Made of paper generally, it can contain almost anything.  Some ideas are to fill it with small presents such as flowers, candy or notes. May baskets are a sweet way to convey your best wishes and love. It is hung at the door of anybody you want to spread cheer to. When done the hanger simply knocks and departs. 

To create a May basket you can use a basket you have on hand, or make one out of paper. If you have little ones at home get them involved too. Decorate the basket with crayons, markers or paint in bright colors. Then fill the basket with whatever small presents you'd like. Flowers are a traditional favorite. You can pick dandelions or any other flowers in your yard that are springing up now. Next simply deliver your basket to your loved one's door. Happy May Day! 
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