May 1st is Labor Day, but it's also the day we give a sprig of lily of the valley to our loved ones. But do you know the origins and history of this tradition? Do you know when it began? We tell you all about it.
Lily of the valley has long been a symbol of spring, but there are several explanations for this French custom. One of them has its origins in the Renaissance. On May 1, 1560, King Charles IX received a bouquet of lily of the valley while traveling in the Drôme region. Conquered, Charles IX decided to offer lily of the valley to each lady of the court every spring.
Much later, the famous bell-shaped plant was displayed on the buttonhole worn by singer Félix Mayol during his first performance on the Concert Parisien stage, on May 1, 1895. Following his success, he made it his emblem.
Another date, another explanation. The lily of the valley is also the plant that the great French couturiers decided to give to their little hands and customers in 1900, during the Belle Époque. A custom was born. Christian Dior made it the emblem of his fashion house.
But then, what's the connection with Labor Day, celebrated every May 1st? The explanation goes back to 1941. That year, Marshal Pétain officially instituted"Labor Day and Social Concord Day". At the same time, he decided to replace the red Eglantine, associated with the left, with the lily of the valley. Abolished after the Liberation, May 1st finally became a paid public holiday in 1948, and the tradition of offering lilies of the valley on May 1st has endured ever since.
May 1st: How to sell and where to find lilies of the valley in Paris and the Ile-de-France region?
Giving lilies of the valley as gifts on May 1st is a time-honored tradition, as these little bells are considered good luck charms. For this special day, you have two options: improvise as an amateur lily of the valley seller in exchange for a small sum of money, or take to the forests around Paris with your family in search of the precious sprigs of good luck. [Read more]
This year, May 1st falls on a Friday! But do you know why this day is a public holiday in France? Are you familiar with the history and origins of Labour Day, also known as International Workers’ Day? Here’s the story. [Read more]
May 1st: How to sell and where to find lilies of the valley in Paris and the Ile-de-France region?
