Dandelions and violets are blooming in our yard. Obviously, anything green is allowed to grow, not just luxurious grass. The flowers remind me of my days attending a country grade school. This week, I would have used my spare time to make May baskets from pieces of colorful construction paper. First, I’d cut a half-inch strip from the wide side of the sheet to use as the handle. Then I’d snip in about an inch from the edges to make a square basket. Before pasting the corners of the folded sides, I drew a rebus on one side. I wrote the word My, drew pictures of a heart and a pair of pants and finished with 4 you. I added the handle by pasting its ends to middle of each long side.
On May 1, I’d bring the baskets home from school, pick flowers from the lawn and add pieces of the fudge Mom had made. I would place the filled containers in the wire basket on the front of my bike and ride to our neighbors’ houses. I’d set a basket on the doorstep, knock, shout “May basket” and quickly pedal away. The object was not to get caught.
With schoolchildren at home more because of the Coronavirus, I wonder if modern parents know about May baskets or can show their kids how to make one. The homemade fudge that I used could be replaced with purchased, individually wrapped morsels. Because the object is to be anonymous, the child could leave the basket on a neighbor’s stoop without making contact.
Did you hang May baskets when you were a grade schooler or are you too young to have participated in the ritual?