May Day is celebrated on May 1. It is an old day of celebration dating back to the Roman Republic. Over its many years, there have been different meanings, festivities, and representations of May Day. Beginning as a day marked with ceremonies, dances, and feasting, it celebrated the rite of spring. It also marks the half way point between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solace. In addition, it has been known as Workers’ Day or International Workers’ Day, a day commemorating the historic struggles and gains made by workers and labors.
In the 19th and 20th centuries, May Day traditions changed to leaving a gift basket filled with flowers or treats at the front door of a neighbor, friend, or loved one. The giver would leave a basket or cone of treats, ring the doorbell, shout “‘May Basket!” and run away. In some communities, hanging a May basket on someone’s door was a chance to express romantic interest. If the recipient caught the giver, he or she was entitled to a kiss. It has also been celebrated with dancing and singing around a pole laced with streamers or ribbons. During my grade school days, we made May Day baskets filled with homemade treats, candy, or dandelions to exchange with school mates.
Today, May Day is almost forgotten. The sentiment of the day certainly has a place in modern society as a time to share a random act of kindness and celebrate spring and friendship—an opportunity to pay it forward. Baskets don’t necessarily have to be left at a front door. Treats can be left for co-workers, teachers, children—anyone—anywhere they will find it.
There are numerous ideas for baskets online—paper cones, styrofoam cups, fabric, tin cans, strawberry baskets—anything goes. And, who says baskets have to be filled with flowers, candy or treats? Don’t limit yourself. Use imagination and creativity. Baskets can be filled with anything appropriate for the recipient. For example, the homeless may appreciate baskets filled with bath products, socks, non-perishable snacks or gift cards. Baskets for others could be filled with small office supplies, seed packets, cooking utensils, hair accessories, or craft supplies. The ideas are endless. Add a little treat to brighten someone’s day with a piece of candy, a flower, or a pop of color with a piece of tissue paper. And if making a basket isn’t for you, maybe buy a cup of coffee for a random stranger and wish them a Happy May Day. Get the kids involved; make it family activity or a youth group project (4-H, Scouts, Church).
So make a basket, ring the doorbell, and run! Spread some kindness! You’ll be glad you did! Happy May Day!
Decorating eggs for Easter or other spring holidays is a tradition loved by many. There are many commercial products available for decorating eggs. Using natural dyes made from plant parts and other natural materials is a fun way to teach “the kids” a little science at the same time. More than likely, those eco-friendly dye ingredients are already in your pantry or refrigerator. However, they may also exist in the landscape.* Using natural dyes allows for lots of experimenting!
Pumpkins of all sizes and varieties are appearing at the market and other venues. There’s a lot of variety in pumpkins and it pays to consider what you’ll be using your pumpkin for–cooking, carving, or decorating–when you go shopping for one. When choosing a carving or decorating pumpkin, you’re looking for a nice shape and a pumpkin that will last several days. The choice for a cooking or baking pumpkin is all about taste and texture.
You can carve or decorate with any type of pumpkin, squash, or gourd. However, larger pumpkins used for carving or decorating are generally known as field pumpkins and besides being larger in size, also have a watery, stringy flesh. A good carving pumpkin should be firm, healthy, feel heavy when picked up, and sound slightly hollow when tapped gently. Ideally, the shell should be hard enough to protect it, but still allow a knife through. Pumpkins with outer shells that feel as hard as a piece of wood are very difficult and dangerous to slice or carve. The heavier the pumpkin, the thicker the walls. Thick walls may block the light source and carving details may be lost. If the pumpkin you choose has thicker walls than desired, one can shave the walls from the inside. Test to see if the pumpkin has a good base to sit on so that it won’t roll over. Avoid carrying the pumpkin by its stem. The stem is not a handle and if it breaks, you may loose part of your design or create a wound that invites rot.
