La Fête du Muguet
According to French tradition, give those you love a little bouquet of Lily-of-the-Valley (Muguet), to wish them happiness and good luck in celebration of the arrival of spring.
Although May 1st is now associated with both workers’ rights and lily of the valley, the two traditions developed separately. The flower was already considered a lucky springtime gift long before it became tied to the public holiday.
In 1561, King Charles IX is said to have been given a sprig of lily of the valley as a lucky charm. Delighted, he then offered it each spring to the ladies of his court, helping launch the tradition. On this day anyone in France can legally sell small bunches of wild muguet on the street without a business licence, provided certain regulations are respected. It is one of the few days of the year when children, families, and neighbours may set up informal flower stands., as long as they are a reasonable distance away from the nearest flower shop.
On May 1st, many towns feel unusually quiet. Bakeries may open only briefly, supermarkets can be closed, and city centres may be filled with demonstrations, marches, and street sellers carrying fragrant white bells of muguet.
La Fête du Travail
In the 19th century, demonstrating workers would wear a red triangle to symbolise 8 hours of work, 8 hours of sleep, and 8 hours of free time, later to be replaced by the Lily-of-the-valley.
May 1st officially became a public holiday after the eight-hour working day was introduced in France on April 23, 1919. Known as Labour Day in some parts of the world, it is also a day for protests, marches.
This day is a bank holiday. Watch out! Most shops, traditionally, will be closed although more and more of the larger chains do now stay open on Bank Hols and small village shops and boulangeries usually open in the morning.)
The 1st of May in France is unusual because it combines two very different traditions: one political, one poetic. A day of marches and labour rights… but also perfume, flowers, and wishes of happiness.
Useful vocabulary:
un brin de muguet – a sprig of lily of the valley
porte-bonheur – lucky charm
jour férié – public holiday
manifestation – demonstration/protest
offrir – to give as a gift
A LITTLE BIRD TOLD ME…
Meaning Lily of the Valley, Muguet is also a useful word to know if you go to the chemist with an itch you just can’t scratch as its other meaning describes the medical condition, thrush!!
Confused? You soon will be! The French for the bird, thrush, is une grive!