One of my very favorite spring traditions, carried over from my childhood, is creating May Baskets. I have sweet memories of hanging construction paper baskets on my neighbors’ door handles, ringing the doorbell and diving into a nearby bush. One particularly vivid memory is a boy across the street who knew the tradition and was waiting for me behind his front door and chased me down to (pretend to) steal a kiss.
May Baskets were actually more popular in the 19th and 20th centuries. According to the Farmer’s Almanac, May Day has been celebrated as the halfway point between the spring equinox and summer solstice, the ushering in of warmer weather and blooming flowers. Traditions include dancing around the Maypole, crowning a May king and queen, and May Baskets.
The custom was to knock on the door, yell “May basket!” and then run. If the recipient caught the giver, he or she was entitled to a kiss.
Louisa May Alcott wrote in the late 1800s: “Such a twanging of bells and rapping of knockers; such a scampering of feet in the dark; such droll collisions as boys came racing round corners, or girls ran into one another’s arms as they crept up and down steps on the sly; such laughing, whistling, flying about of flowers and friendly feeling—it was almost a pity that May-day did not come oftener.”
In the 1920s, bold schoolchildren hung a May basket on the White House door for First Lady Grace Coolidge.
Today, our family uses the May Basket tradition to show our neighbors love.
How to Make a May Basket
- Fold construction paper or a paper plate into a cone shape. Secure with tape or staples. We have even used decorated paper lunch bags.
- Fill with candy, flowers or make your own flowers.
- Write a little note or remain anonymous if you wish.
- Place the May Basket on the neighbor’s door handle or mat, ring the doorbell and RUN! Doorbell cameras have made this particularly challenging.
Happy May Day!
