The tradition of May Basket Day goes back as far as the late 1800s early 1900s. They most often were filled with flowers because the saying of, "April Shower's Bring May Flowers" , but were also filled with candies and other little gifts that could fit in a small basket to be given out on May 1st. They were left anonymously on the doors of friends and neighbors but were also left sometimes by secret admirers. It is a sweet gestures of love and friendship: a way to let someone know you are thinking of them. It is a tradition that has sadly faded, but I think of it every year on the first of May and this year I finally made them and we passed them out to our neighbors. They were so fun and easy to make. The children enjoyed it as much as I did. It was so fun to see them running up and down the sidewalks and eager to ring neighbors doorbells to give them flowers. We spent time visiting with the neighbors. It was a great way to interact with neighbors and visit. I had most of the supplies needed to make the baskets on hand already.
To make May Day Baskets you need:
Flowers
Scissors
Ruler
Hot Glue Gun/Glue sticks
Printed Scrapbook paper
Ribbion
Cut scrapbook paper into a 7 or 9 inch square and the cut in half to make a triangle. Roll the paper triangle into a cone and glue along one side. Cut ribbon in 12 inch strands. Hot glue ribbon inside the top of the paper cones on the sides. Cut flowers to fit the cones and fill with arranged flowers.
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| May Basket Supplies |
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| Flowers |
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| Completed Baskets |
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| More Baskets |
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| Ready to pass out their May Day baskets. |
