At Bonnes Routes we love to share the traditions of our adopted country. A month ago was the poisson d’avril, and today is 1er mai - May Day.
Firstly today is « La Fête du travail » (labour day to our English friends). In France this is a designated day of action, and is a mandatory public holiday. Trade unions and other groups organise marches and demonstrations to campaign for workers rights and other social issues, with action in Paris usually attracting the most media attention. As a bit of a history lesson, and to correct those who think protesting is a ‘french thing’, the origin of labour day is actually a huge strike in Chicago in 1886 campaigning for an eight-hour day.
This year the call was for workers to demonstrate from their balconies and on social media .... it just isn't the same ....
The second tradition is « La Fête du Muguet » (pronounced moo-gay) which is literally the celebration of the lily of the valley, known more commonly across the world as May Day. ln France it is customary to give friends, family and loved ones a sprig, bouquet or plant of lily of the valley as a gesture of friendship and good luck in celebration of spring.
Usually flower stands pop up along the road sides with children (and adults) selling the flowers they've usually grown in the garden or picked in the woods. This is the one day of the year when the government allows anyone to sell flowers on the streets without a license and tax-free (as long as they don't do it within 40m of a florist and don't add any other flowers). Over 60 million sprigs are sold every year. There will be lots of children out of pocket this year! That said, as the weather has been so warm, the muguet flowered quite early so our lovely neighbour Martine gave us a bunch a week or two ago.
For the second history lesson, the tradition of the muguet originates in 1561 when King Charles IX was given a muguet flower as a lucky charm. He liked it so much that he decided to offer them each year to the ladies of the court.
Lovely traditions, and educational too ! Happy 1er mai from Bonnes Routes.