MAY 1ST LILY OF THE VALLEY. This Sunday, May 1, 2022 holiday celebrates Labor Day. The tradition is to treat yourself to a sprig of lily of the valley. This highly symbolic bell flower has many faces even if its origin remains uncertain. Where does this custom come from? Linternaute offers you several ideas for cards to send to your loved ones.
[Mis à jour le 1er mai 2022 à 14h42] This Sunday, May 1, some 14,000 florists in France are preparing to display their most beautiful bouquets of lily of the valley in front of their shops. Because every May 1, the tradition is that we offer a bouquet or a sprig of lily of the valley as a lucky flower (and it’s even better if your sprig of lily of the valley has 13 bells!). Thus, for florists, Labor Day corresponds each year to a very important day for their turnover (approximately 7 million euros each year for a production of nearly 60 million sprigs of lily of the valley). And it should be noted that every May 1, even the sale of lily of the valley without a permit is tolerated in the street.
But beware, if this bell seduces a large number of us, you should know that this plant is toxic. To avoid a drama on this holiday, be vigilant and do not leave your sprig or bouquet of lily of the valley within reach of young children, babies, or pets.
The solution may then be to opt for a bit of…virtual lily of the valley! If it is possible to have this flower delivered on D-Day, more and more of you are tempted by its digital or paper version to please your loved ones, and to send a pretty photo of lily of the valley by email or a card by mail. Discover our selection of the most beautiful lily of the valley photos to send below. And by the way, do you know why it is said that lily of the valley is a nice lucky charm on May 1st? Here is the whole story and our tips for maintaining your May 1 lily of the valley!
Do you know why lily of the valley is in the spotlight on Labor Day? If the flower with white bells is sold on May 1st, it is primarily a question of tradition which dates back to 1561. Charles IX, who had received a sprig on this date, decided to offer some to the ladies of the court each year. Then the tradition became really popular in 1900 when lily of the valley was at the center of a party organized by Parisian fashion designers on the 1er may. In the language of flowers, the lily of the valley has been a lucky charm since the Middle Ages, quite simply because it symbolizes the return of spring and announces sunny days. May was also the month of weddings and the engaged couple hung a bouquet of lily of the valley on the door of their future wife. When you receive or offer lily of the valley, count the number of bells: if there are 13, it is a symbol of eternal happiness!
On the occasion of May 1, it’s time to share a sprig or a bouquet of lily of the valley with your loved ones. Lily of the valley celebrates the arrival of spring and is a real lucky charm. We thought of everyone who couldn’t offer lily of the valley in person. We have thus selected for you the most beautiful photos and images of lily of the valley so that you can send a little luck to your friends and family. Lily of the valley, bouquet of lily of the valley, image of a lucky lily of the valley or rather photo of lily of the valley in a garden… You just have to make your choice! Choose an image or a photo, click on the magnifying glass and right click to “save as” the lily of the valley that you like:
To bring good luck to your friends and family, you can send them a May Day lily of the valley card. Our animated cards will create a surprise in mailboxes to celebrate Labor Day. You can schedule your card to be sent to the recipient of your choice and it will be sent with your message on the date and time indicated. Whether you prefer a photo or an image of lily of the valley, here is our selection:
Lily of the valley normally blooms from late April to mid-May, just in time to come on May 1 as a lucky charm. Its flowering is very short, but for an apartment culture, it is possible to play with the light in order to speed up or slow down the process, this with a view to having pretty bells on May 1st.
Planted or potted lily of the valley requires no maintenance other than regular watering. Its worst enemy: dry soil that traps its roots. So do not hesitate to water it a little each evening, especially in summer, but do not wet the foliage which does not support it. If you received lily of the valley in a pot, you can easily plant it in the garden after it blooms. When the strands are cut, they must remember to cut the bottom of the stems at an angle and place them in a vase half filled with water, taking care that the leaves do not soak in the water. Avoid placing the vase in the sun or in a draught. To keep lily of the valley longer, change the water regularly.
In areas where the winters are rather mild, lily of the valley is planted in mid-autumn. For the places most exposed to the winter cold, it will be good to wait for the end of the frosts, during the month of March. The claws (underground part of the stem with several roots and a living bud) must be planted shallow enough for the bud to protrude from the ground. The latter must be fresh, loose and sufficiently rich. Choose compost over fertilizer.
If you plant your lily of the valley in the ground, choose a place resembling an undergrowth to provide shade and humidity to the plant. If you want a real massif, count about fifteen claws per m². But if you are patient, your thrush will proliferate on its own if it feels good where it is.
The bells of lily of the valley do not fail to seduce each year but bring in the flower of the 1er May in our interiors is not without risk because it contains convallarine, a very toxic substance. You will therefore have to be vigilant if you buy a sprig of lily of the valley or a bouquet. Never let babies and young children play with lily of the valley and immediately call a poison control center if, despite your vigilance, your child has chewed a bit of lily of the valley. You will also need to be especially vigilant if you have pets as ingestion can cause fatal poisoning. Know that the whole plant is toxic and even the water in the vase. So be sure to place your lily of the valley sprigs in a place inaccessible to cats, dogs and other companions.