May Baskets
out of crepe paper, mostly pastel shades.
In the spring of 1999 my sister-in-law, Joy Libby, sent me a pattern and
instructions because I had forgotten how to make them. It was easy when I was six, not so simple at
sixty! In Garland May Baskets were hung
any day throughout the month. We’d put
candy in them, or in lieu of that, (War Years, you know) it might be a favorite
tiny collectible. The crepe paper May
Baskets hung down with the weight of the contents. After stealthily approaching the recipient’s
house, we’d hang the basket by the handles on the doorknob, knock on the door,
and yell, “May Basket!” then run away as fast as we could, and hide. The recipient would then come out to chase
us. If a member of the opposite sex hung
a May Basket, the person receiving it was supposed to catch and kiss the
giver. We made our own rules and hung
the May Baskets for the surprise and the fun of the chase. We made some May Baskets by covering small
cardboard boxes with crepe paper trimmings.
Then, we’d add a handle and if it couldn’t be hung on a doorknob we’d
set it on the porch or doorstep.
is an old New England
tradition. It is
a token of love and
friendship; an
announcement of Spring and
Good Cheer.
Starting on May Day,
children place
gaily-filled May Baskets on
the doorstep
of a friend’s home, shout,
“May Basket!”
and run away.
May Baskets are not only
given by
children but also are
delivered to
loved ones , to invalids and
to
shut-ins. They are intended to
express one’s friendship in
the nicest possible
way.
Charlene
Dapolito, who had worked at SoFro with me while we lived in Nashua,
New Hampshire,
sent me a beautiful May Basket. She had
attached a little pink construction paper heart that had the above explanation
of the hanging of May Baskets.
From Marilyn Sue
(Libby) Moore’s MEMOIRS
Anyone else out there have MAY BASKET STORIES to share? Join
right in!
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