Yesterday was French Labor Day. Jeremy had off work and we were planning on going to a yard sale by the mall. Little did we know that Labor Day is taken seriously here! Everything is closed! This includes the tram or bus we would need to get to the mall, so that idea quickly went out the door. The grocery store, post office, bank, everything was closed. Considering the grocery store is within eye sight from the apartment, I typically shop almost daily just picking up what I need for dinner that night; our cupboards are pretty bare. Not anticipating a store closure, I hadn't shopped in advance. I had enough to scrap together pasta with peas and broccoli with a béchamel sauce but considering I've been cooking pretty elaborate meals lately, it was a little depressing!
May 1st is also the day to give close friends and family, typically females, lily of the valleys as a token of appreciation or to express affection. It started in 1561 when King Charles IX was presented with them on May 1st. He liked them very much and decided he would give them the the ladies of his court each year. Now on May 1st, they are allowed to be sold tax free.
While it may also be called May day, it is not the same as the May day that takes place in Great Britain and Italy. That May day is a celebration of spring, involving dancing, typically around a ribboned mayppole. France's May day is simply just for campaigning and celebrating worker's rights, and handing out lily of the valleys.
There are three other national holidays this month, WWII victory day, Ascension day, and Whit Monday, which means not a single week in May is a full work week.
May 1st is also the day to give close friends and family, typically females, lily of the valleys as a token of appreciation or to express affection. It started in 1561 when King Charles IX was presented with them on May 1st. He liked them very much and decided he would give them the the ladies of his court each year. Now on May 1st, they are allowed to be sold tax free.
While it may also be called May day, it is not the same as the May day that takes place in Great Britain and Italy. That May day is a celebration of spring, involving dancing, typically around a ribboned mayppole. France's May day is simply just for campaigning and celebrating worker's rights, and handing out lily of the valleys.
There are three other national holidays this month, WWII victory day, Ascension day, and Whit Monday, which means not a single week in May is a full work week.