May Day Tea

The approach of May Day always transports me back to grade school where the holiday was celebrated with much fanfare and festivity. Attending an all girls school, we could revel in this day featuring flowers, romance, ribbons and new outfits with unabashed exuberance. The May Queen and her court were chosen from among the students and ceremoniously crowned as groups of girls danced around a May pole weaving intricate patterns from colorful garland.

Of course that was more than a few years ago, and the event seems antiquated and quaint by today's standards, but I thought I'd revisit the day this year with a Tea featuring a traditional sweet treat and projects celebrating and the symbols of Spring.

May Day Fairy Garden 

I'm not sure zoning would allow a Maypole in my backyard but this mini fairy sized version is a fun alternative and fairly simple to create.
You'll Need:
Wide mouthed container
Potting soil
Rocks for drainage
Small plants, moss, or grasses
Princess wand ( I got mine at the dollar store) or small painted dowel
Floral foam
Assorted ribbon
Faux flowers and accessories

Place rocks in base of container and fill with soil. Place floral foam where Maypole will stand and cover with moss or grass Plant flowers as desired leaving generous "lawn" area for May pole.

I kidnapped a little clay cottage from the irish Terrariums from my Emerald Isle post and perched it among the flowers. 

A plastic princess wand from a dollar or party store makes a great maypole. I chose a white one with pearl and ribbon accents, but a dowel or small stick will do as well. Cut ribbons to desired length and add to top of pole. 

I had some lace dipped in ModgePodge from a previous project and popped that on top as a makeshift crown.

Being indecisive, I then tried a few "faux" flowers instead.

 Children around a MayPole, Ireland 1909 

image from national archives

image from Graphics Fairy
from 1859 French garden Book

May Day traditions date back to the time of the ancient Romans who worshipped the Goddess Flora with a festival of flowers and dancing. Through the centuries the holiday has been reinvented around Europe as a celebration of spring and rebirth. In the opening of Tess of the D'Urbervilles the village girls participate in a May Day parade and dance, wearing white to symbolize purity and holding symbols of new life and fertility. You may want to have a tissue box ready if you watch this somewhat tragic movie but the scenery alone is worth it.

From the 2008 BBC version of Tess of the D'Urbervilles

Syllabub

Syllabub is a recipe dating back to the Tudor age and was thought to be originally made by dairy maids using new fresh Spring cream. There are dozens of variations of this whimsically sounding dessert using different combinations of fruits, flavors and spirits. Some say milk was squirted directly from the cow into a bucket of sweetened wine. Forgoing the use of livestock, I found one of the more simple recipes using storebought cream and white wine from a charming book called Seasonal celebrations

by Tessa Evelegh

Recipe

Combine 3/4 cup white wine, zest and juice of one orange, superfine sugar in bowl and let sit for 2 hours

(I popped it in the refrigerator)

Whisk 1 1/4 cups fresh cream to soft peaks while slowly adding in wine mixture.

If desired, brush berries,flowers or mint leaves with agave or honey thinned with water.

Sprinkle with white sugar to frost and let dry.

Layer syllabub and garnishes in pretty glasses and serve immediately

The original instruction calls for edible frosted flowers, but not being able to locate any, I opted for sugared berries and mint as a substitute.

I spooned the dessert into mini parfait glasses from the Dollar Store

Find a quiet spot and enjoy

May Day Floral Cones

 Giving small floral gifts to family and neighbors is an old charming May Day custom, whether a small handful of wildflowers or a delightful May basket brimming with spring blooms.

 These dolled up party hats turn into festive floral May cones. 

Add any pretty paper, graphics below if desired and ribbon to hang.

In France Lily's of the Valley are the traditional flower of May Day so I included one, along with a French greeting on these pretty graphics from the graphics Fairy.

These cones make fun party favors as well.

 Wrap stems with plastic wrap and pop into cone for a temporary home.

 In some cultures, cones of flowers are stealthily hung anonymously on doors to surprise recipients. Kids especially love the "sneaky" aspect of this tradition.

Surprise someone

For fun facts, history and authentic Mayday songs visit 
May Day traditions

PennyWise Tips

Create a May crown by attaching fresh or faux flowers to a cardboard headband and crown a May Queen
 (or a few to prevent jealousy)

Serve floral infused teas to carry out the Spring theme and garnish store-bought cookies with fresh mint and fruit

Does your house need a Spring Spruce-up?

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Contest open until April 30.  

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