ATC - May 2 - Marriage and Muguets May Day and Beltaine!

"Now is the Month of Maying,
when merry lads are playing."

May Day is not celebrated so much in my part of the country anymore, as it has fallen out of fashion and never was given the status of a Holiday; which come to think of it, is terribly ironic considering that it is known as the Workers Day in most civilized countries.

Instead we have two Days of Importance in May: Mother's Day (second Sunday in May) and Victoria Day (who else but us would celebrate a Dead Queen's Birthday?)
Since May Day has long had roots in early Spring Time (ie Fertility) Celebrations, I find it refreshing that both holidays centre around Women.

May will always be associated in my mind with Marriage and Muguets (Lily of the Valley) - first because my lovely cousin Bonnie's nuptials which were done May 3, two years ago, and now my niece Jenn who is tying the knot with the dashing Ross on May 15th.

Ms D's ATC shows yours truly with Ms D's husband, dear WL, who did the official bit and married his sister TO Bill. (just want to make that clear)
Not many sisters out there can claim they were married by their brother!

Now to the Muguets:
My ATC on the other hand, is more a memory keeper about the May Day I experienced in Brittany, France. 2006.
My friends and I had just had our lunch in a small park and were about to set off in Julian's jeep, when John spied a young Bretagne girl, running to our vehicle.

John said "Hold on, Julian, I think we are about to be gifted with something."

The young girl tapped on the back window and Carmel who was sitting next to me, rolled it down.

Then the young lady reached across Carmel as best she could with a bunch of lily of the valleys, and said, 'Pour vous Madame, une cadeau.' and bounced off.

Later I discovered that it is a French tradition on May Day to give lily of the valleys for luck.

So I send off this photo of my very own home grown Lily of the Valley to all my readers with May Day Lucky blessings!

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This Day is also known as Beltainne in the Celtic Calendar - the Day of Sacred Marriage between the Lord and Lady of the GreenWood.

May this Beltainne be always remembered with Joy and an Abundance of Blessings!