{"id":650,"date":"2020-05-01T09:12:09","date_gmt":"2020-05-01T07:12:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/amotherinfrance.com\/?p=650"},"modified":"2020-05-01T09:12:09","modified_gmt":"2020-05-01T07:12:09","slug":"may-day-traditions-and-memories-of-a-generous-neighbour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/amotherinfrance.com\/may-day-traditions-and-memories-of-a-generous-neighbour\/","title":{"rendered":"May day traditions and memories of a generous neighbour"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
The 1st May is a bank holiday in France, although this year will be different as we are all in confinement. It’s labour day or F\u00eate du Travail and of all the bank holidays, this is the one that is most respected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In our early years here, my husband would usually continue working on a bank holiday. He was often not even aware it was a \u2018Jour feri\u00e9\u2019, and has had people come and tell him off for not respecting it … Since opening the garden centre though, most years he\u2019s taken a stall at a local Floralie (Flower\/plant fair), which are very popular here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
May first is also ‘F\u00eate du Muguet’ (Muguet<\/em> is Lily of the Valley in English). This is a tradition where people give a small bunch of Lily of the valley to ladies, but can be anyone, as a symbol of good luck and friendship. The first time we came across this tradition was in our first year in France. Mr Delfour our very friendly neighbour gave me a bunch of Muguet with an explanation of the tradition. The tradition started back on 1st<\/sup> May 1561 when King Charles IX of France offered Muguet to all the ladies of his court. <\/p>\n\n\n\n