May Day traditions in France are all about two things: muguet, pronounced “moo-gay” (lily of the valley in English) and Labour Day. On the 1st of May friends and family offer each other little sprigs, bouquets or whole plants of lily of the valley for good luck. The more little bell-like flowers the plant has, the better the luck. This day is pretty much the only public holiday where just about everything is closed. It really is a day off for workers.
While lily of the valley has long symbolised spring and the Celts accorded it the status of a good luck charm, the tradition of giving muguet for May Day in France dates back to the reign of Charles IX. In 1561 the young King was given a branch for good luck and he liked the idea so much that from then on, each 1st of May, he gave every woman in his court a sprig.
During the 1890s workers marching on the 1st of May started wearing a little red triangle in their buttonholes. This was replaced by an eglantine rose which became the symbol of the Left. During the Pétain years in the Vichy Government (1940-1944) the eglantine was officially replaced with the lily of the valley, bringing the muguet back the the forefront where it has stayed as the symbol of the 1st of May ever since.
Nowadays, it is legal for anyone to sell muguet on the street on the 1st of May without a licence and without having to pay taxes, as long as it is picked wild or homegrown. This may seem quite understandable for readers from countries where it is legal to sell one’s own wares on the street, but this is not the case in France. Thanks to a special law, it is the only time in the year when this is permissible. Incredible but true! (See my post on car boot sales for more on this.)
Is the 1st of May a holiday in your country? Are there any specific traditions associated with this day where you are? I’d love to hear from you.
photo credit for top photo and pin: Lily of the Valley via photopin (license)
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Was May Day celebrated with Muguet this year during lockdown?
Hi Sarah, I live in Nancy, and we still got this tradition, but in small towns surrounded by nature, in the city, i agree, it’s impossible to do the same, but, i promise, in small towns it’s still there ☺
What food would typical eaten on May Day?
I think I quite like the idea of it being illegal to sell things on the street, it would make London a much easier place to get around!
What a lovely tradition, I don’t think we have any May Day traditions… maybe I should start one x
I love learning all these traditions from around the world.
We have traditional English fetes and we went and enjoyed a donkey Derby and maypole. The French traditions look fun!
I love the idea of giving lily of the valley as a gift on May 1st. It’s one of my favourite flowers 🙂
It’s certainly nothing like as common as 30 years ago that’s for sure Ness.
I hope so Jen, these little traditions are so important.
When I was at school we did Maypole dancing. I very much doubt they still do it 30 years on!
What a fab tradition. I love the smell of Lilly of the Valley. I think that we are all coming back to the small traditions that are important, especially as the church no longer has such a strong hold in the UK
Thanks Nayna
That’s great to hear, I’m glad some places have traditional festivities.
It’s a shame traditions like the maypole are dying out. I think France is pretty good at keeping its traditions going, you should come back again one day Sara-Jayne. How lovely that you lived in Strasbourg it’s such a lovely place.
When I was little we danced around the Maypole, but that seems to be all but gone now. I love the French traditions, I lived in Strasbourg for a while and I truly miss it!
We’ve been to the Jack in the Green festival today, which is a full-on pagan inspired English May day festival with a May queen, morris dancers and maypole dancing. All good fun! Mich x
Its interesting to read about the traditions of different countries nad how they celebrate them.
So do I Tanja!
I love the smell of muguets:)
Lily of the valley is a very popular perfume in soaps and cosmetics. Maybe you can get to smell it one day this way if you can’t find the actual flower. 😉
Lily of the valley is a very popular perfume in soaps and cosmetics. Maybe you can get to smell it one day this way if you can’t find the actual flower. 😉
French and their predilection for romance hey? Even the kings were romantic! :p
I wonder why your Labour Day got changed? Perhaps LOTV doesn’t grow in Australia. Certainly my guess is that Queensland is too warm. It grows in the shade in cool spots. I’m happy to hear you had a look at the apartment, please spread the word to any friends traveling in France and of course remember it for yourself if you come this way.
I’d love to see a village with a traditional maypole but they certainly aren’t common any more. France is good at keeping its traditions up.
Interesting that your lily of the valley aren’t out yet, they’re very much part of early spring here.
You said it Kanchan, no country has it all but life in France is pretty good despite its odd little rules.
I’m sure it does Hannah, you’ve got to create your own luck sometimes!
Thanks for commenting!
I agree with you Emma, it does seem bizarre but that’s the way it is here!
France is full of crazy administrative quirks; even after 17 years here I discover new ones regularly!
Thanks for stopping by Phi 🙂
May 1 is Labour Day in Malaysia. I couldn’t tell if there were any specific traditions other than it being a public holiday. Those lilies of the valley are so pretty but I don’t have any idea what they smell like. Glad that the ban on selling them is lifted for this celebration.
Charles IX was certainly a romantic. I didn’t know that about the lily — they are beautiful flowers for sure. Interesting that you need a licence.
I live in Queensland and we used to celebrate Labour Day on the first Monday in May. Now it is in October which is plain weird. Lily of the Valley is not a flower I am familiar with in every day life but it looks beautiful and giving it to friends is a lovely tradition. I had a look at your apartment for rent. It looks gorgeous.
It’s not a holiday in Canada – but we have a long weekend in another couple of weeks. My lily-of-the-valley still look quite dead so no chance of me picking and selling.
Interesting hearing about the laws of another country.
I personally love Lily of the Valley…my sister used to grow them when I was little and would let me have a few if I was really good! We have a big age gap 😛
Seems odd that one can’t sell their own produce, but France has always been a bit picky like that..well, no country has it all, eh?! I still wouldn’t pass up on the chance of living there for a bit 🙂
That said, it’s lovely that May Day traditions are upheld so beautifully …it’s a lovely time to come together and enjoy the sun! 🙂 x
Oooh! A fascinating insight into French life – I really want some muguet now (so glad you wrote how to pronounce that!). I think I’ll pop to the garden centre later for a plant! Does the luck count if you buy it for yourself?!
Happy May Day xxx
its fascinating to hear about these little traditions in different places that we otherwise would not hear about. x
interesting hearing about more of the french culture. Seems bizarre that you can’t even have a garage sale
How interesting! I never knew it was illegal to sell things on the street in France! Lily of the Valley is my absolutely favourite flower…the smell is fabulous!
What a beautiful tradition- I want a Muguet!! haha, I’m here from #LAB and I live in the US, we do not have a celebration like this, but I sure would love to partake in it 🙂
Happy that you’ve learnt something else about your birth flower Wendy. Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
I love Lily of The Valley it is my birthday flower. I never knew about the significance of the Lily . Thank you .
Hi Mags
I still find it incredible how much administration there is in France over such minor petty things, but technically, no they can’t to answer your question. It also means you can’t have a garage sale. But I fully agree with you about the gorgeous smell of L-o-t-v. Thanks for commenting!
How funny that you can’t sell things on the street. Does that mean kids can’t set up a stall and sell cakes etc? I do love the smell of lily of the valley though! :p