May day traditions in France and Ireland

On this, the 1st of May, I thought it would be interesting to look at some of the traditions that are associated with the day in France and Ireland. 

FLOWERS

In France, it is custom to offer lily of the valley to your loved ones on May 1st. It has long been associated with this time of year (since Celtic times or before) and is supposed to bring good luck and happiness. Learn more about the tradition here.

It's big business in France. In 2019, €22 million was spent on it in France. An incredible 60 million sprigs of lily of the valley were produced (80% of it came from the Nantes region where 7,000 people were employed in the harvest). Figures from the French Ministry of Agriculture.

Un brin de muguet [a sprig of lily of the valley]. Image source.

In Ireland, yellow flowers such as gorse (furze) were popular as they reflected the sun. May 1st is known in Ireland as the festival of Bealtaine. It has its roots in both Christian and Celtic / pagan traditions. Read more about Bealtaine here in this article on RTE Brainstorm.

Gorse bush [ajonc]. Image source.

WORKERS' DAY

May 1st is recognised worldwide as the workers' day. It was established as such in 1889 by the International Socialist Congress. It has been celebrated in France since then. Find out more about how it was reported in the French press over the years and see newspaper articles about it here on the website of Gallica (the French National Library's digital website).

Demonstrations are organised by the main trade unions and take place in cities all over the country. In 2019, it is estimated that between 164,000 (according to the police) and 310,000 (according to the trade unions) people marched in the demonstrations in France (figures from Europe 1). In 2020, it will take a virtual form online as France is still in lock down due to the Coronavirus.  

May Day demonstration, Paris 1909. Image source.

During the Bealtaine festival in Ireland, bonfires would be lit to mark the changing of the seasons and the approach of summer. See here for information on the May Day traditions in Ireland and again see the article on RTE's Brainstorm.

Dancing around the Maypole. Image source.