May Day Baskets: A Lost Tradition







Happy May, Everyone!  It's a little gloomy at my house today but, it's May anyway and there will be great weather coming at some point I am sure!  I know that I said my next post would be Part Two of the Flowers for an April Wedding but, I have been sidetracked a bit this week with my latest project.  I promise to post Part Two very soon but for today I am talking May Baskets :).


Have any of you ever heard of May Baskets?  Well, that tradition is way before my time and any of yours for that matter but, I have always found it to be one of the sweetest ideas I have ever heard of.

The gist of it is that you would make a little basket, fill it with flowers or candy or some other small gift and leave the basket anonymously hanging on the door of a neighbor's house to officially announce spring or the month of May.  Not sure on that one....but isn't that a cute tradition?


So, as I was thinking about the tradition, I decided to give it a go.  I bought some peat pots and painted them white with acrylic craft paint.  I used a paper punch and put two holes on opposite sides of the pot just under the rim.  These holes would be used to attach either wire or ribbon for the handle.  I then lined the pot with a plastic cup cut down to size.

***As a side note:  I originally put holes in the plastic cup, as well, and attached the wire through both holes.  This was a very bad idea because the water I used to nourish the flowers seeped through the plastic cup hole and wet the peat pot...not great.  The next one I did I only put a hole in the peat pot.  I then attached the hanger through the peat pot hole only and slipped the plastic liner over all of that.  This worked perfectly...no seepage.  Great!


I then filled the pots with various flowers, some from the grocery store and some from potted plants I had purchased for Easter. 



Here, you can see the various baskets I made.






I wanted to attach a tag to the arrangement so, I went on Pinterest and found some free printable tags.  You can write a "Happy May Day" note on the back of it to convey the message, if you'd like.






These baskets are really fun and somewhat easy to make.  I know we live in a different world now and the tradition of May Day baskets is a far-fetched idea but, isn't it a nice concept anyway?


I have a friend who recently returned from Florida.  Maybe I should leave this guy on her front door :).

Happy May Day, Everyone!



Linking up at these parties!
Wow Me Wednesday
To Grandma's House We Go
Silver Pennies Sundays
Thursday Favorite Things



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10 comments:

  1. Julie @ My Wee AbodeMay 2, 2019 at 1:19 PM

    Lovely, Christene! Saw this over at Amber's round-up of May Day flowers. Be sure to link-up at Homestyle Gathering, if you haven't already! ;-)

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    1. Christinemitch81May 2, 2019 at 7:52 PM

      Thank you, Julie! I will be sure to link-up at Homestyle Gathering :).

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  2. Theresa @ Shoestring EleganceMay 8, 2019 at 7:12 PM

    Christine, Your May Day baskets are beautiful!! Not a lost tradition on me, although I have been doing more floral cones in recent years. Love yours! Thank you so much for sharing them with us at the Thursday favorite Things party, I'm featuring your adorable baskets at this week's party! Pinned to my party board as well!
    Theresa
    https://www.shoestringeleganceblog.com/

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  3. Christinemitch81May 8, 2019 at 8:43 PM

    How very kind of you, Theresa! Thanks so much for the feature and the pinning. I am very grateful. Thank you!

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  4. Kerryanne @ Shabby Art BoutiqueMay 10, 2019 at 1:35 AM

    I think these are adorable Christine. I live in Australia where it is autumn right now, so May Day flowers are new to me, but I love this idea.
    Thanks for sharing them at Create, Bake, Grow & Gather this week. I'm delighted to be featuring your sweet flower baskets at tonight's party and pinning too!
    Hugs,
    Kerryanne

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    1. Christinemitch81May 10, 2019 at 9:30 AM

      Hi Kerryanne. How very sweet of you! I am thrilled that you liked my post and thanks so much for the feature! I loved making these May Day Baskets. I encourage anyone to give it a try :). XOXO Christine~

      Delete
  5. While I LingerMay 10, 2019 at 7:52 AM

    Thank you for reminding me that these used to be common place when I was growing up.(I'm in my 50's). I had forgotten the joy of leaving a surprise gift. It cost next to nothing but paid off in big ways to know you could brighten someone's day for no other reason than you could. Your May basket Found you at Shabby Art Boutique.

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    1. Christinemitch81May 10, 2019 at 9:32 AM

      Thanks so much! I totally agree that it is wonderful to brighten someone's day. Don't you think it brightens the giver's day all at the same time, too :)? Thanks for stopping by.

      Delete
  6. Kippi O'HernMay 10, 2019 at 8:13 AM

    Beautiful floral arrangement for spring and summer. Pinned
    Happy Mother's Day, Kippi #kippiathome

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  7. Christinemitch81May 10, 2019 at 9:32 AM

    Thank you Kippi. I truly appreciate it. Have a great day!

    ReplyDelete

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