May Day (May 1st) is celebrated in many places around the world. The traditions and stories surrounding May Day vary from place to place. There is, however, one thing that is similar in most celebrations - the use of Flowers!
Make a May Day Cone Basket or a Mini May Day Basket
One of the most popularly known May Day traditions is to hang a basket full of spring flowers and/or other small gifts on a neighbor's doorknob. The trick is you don't want the neighbor to see you! If you get caught, you are supposed to get a kiss.
Materials Needed:
•Construction Paper
•Cellophane Tape
•Home-Made Flowers
•Scissors
Instructions:
Cut a triangle shape out of bright colored construction paper. Make the point flat. Roll the triangle into a cone shape and tape the 2 sides together. Trim off any extra paper around the top of the cone to make it even.
Cut a strip of construction paper that is approximately 12-inches long by 2-inches wide. Tape this strip onto the top of your cone to make a handle.
Now you can fill the basket with flowers and/or treats. Once your May Day cone basket is done, try to hang it on your neighbor's doorknob without getting caught!
Make your own Tabletop May Pole
A popular activity on May Day is to decorate a pole with brightly colored ribbon or paper streamers. Some also add flowers and balloons. The pole is usually carried in a parade and then placed in the ground at a designated area. People then dance around the May pole, holding the ends of the streamers or ribbon in their hands.
Materials Needed:
•Paper Towel Roll
•Cardboard Piece
•Paint
•Ribbon
•Cellophane Tape
•Paint Brush
•Scissors
Instructions:
Tape one end of your painted paper towel roll onto a small piece of cardboard so it stands up straight. Paint the paper towel roll and cardboard a bright color. Set it aside to dry.
Wrap colorful ribbon around your May pole and secure with tape. Cut lengths of ribbon to hang on the outside of your May Pole. Tape these on the inside of the top edge of the paper towel roll. If you like, you can also decorate your May pole with flowers!
Make your own Wishing Well
In London, May Day is celebrated with the children going from house to house. They bring flowers and get pennies in return. The pennies are then thrown into a wishing well. The pennies are then donated to charity.
Materials Needed:
•Craft Sticks
•Tin Can
•Rubber Bands
•Craft Glue
Instructions:
Glue craft sticks around the outside of the tin tan until it is completely covered (figure 1). Once you are done, wrap a few rubber bands around the can to hold the sticks in place until the glue dries. Glue 2 more craft sticks on the can as shown in figure 2. They should be directly across from each other. Wrap rubber bands around these also.
While the can is drying, you can start constructing the roof of your wishing well. Lay 2 craft sticks down as shown in figure 3. Put a dab of glue on each end of another craft stick and lay it across the other 2 as shown in figure 4. Repeat this until yours looks similar to figure 5. Repeat these steps so you end up with 2 pieces that look like figure 5. Also, glue together a set of 45 degree angles out of crafts sticks (figure 6). Set all these pieces aside to dry.
Once everything is dry, you can start gluing the pieces together! Glue the two 45 degree angles on the can as shown in figure 7. Place a clothes pin on them and set aside until it completely dry. Once these are dry, glue on the roof pieces you made from above (figure 8). Top it off with one craft stick glued across the top of your wishing well's roof. Once again, position clothes pins on the pieces until dry.
Once all the glue is dry, your wishing well is ready for pennies or whatever else you want to do with it!
Make a Cow Puppet (Add a flower to its tail and put on a parade!)
In France, cows play an important role in May Day. The cows are led in parades with many flowers attached to their tails. The people watching the parade try to touch the cows; it is believed to be good luck
Materials Needed:
•Paper Lunch Bag (preferably white)
•Black Paint
•Circle-Shaped Sponge
•Construction Paper
•Craft Glue
•Scissors
Instructions:
Use a white paper lunch bag if you can. Use the construction paper or markers to make a face on the bottom of the paper bag. The mouth will be on the bottom edge where the bag is folded. You can also use felt and cut out eyes, nose, etc. Cut small, pointy ear shapes out of construction paper and glue them to the side of the bottom edge of the paper bag.
Once your face is done, you can finish making your cow by giving it black spots! Dip a small, round sponge into black paint and dab it on the bag. Set it aside until the paint dries.
Make a May Tree
In Germany, one tradition is for boys to secretly plant a May tree in front of the window of the girl they love.
Materials Needed:
•Construction Paper
•Crayons
•Miscellaneous Craft Supplies
•Craft Glue
•Scissors
Instructions:
On the large piece of construction paper, trace your hand and forearm all the way up to your elbow. Make sure your fingers are spread apart. The tracing of your forearm will be the tree trunk and your fingers will be the branches! Color it in with brown crayons (you can also use paint or markers).
Using whatever craft supplies you have on hand, cut out leaf and flower shapes and glue them all over your tree's branches. Try some of these suggestions:
•Construction Paper
•Tissue Paper
•Cardboard
•Crepe Paper
•Wallpaper Samples
•Scrap Material
•Buttons
•Felt
•Pieces of Real Leaves and Flowers
•Anything else you can find!
You can also use paint to make the leaves. Pour a little paint on a paper plate, dip your finger in it, and then make fingerprints on the tree branches. Then you can make flowers for your tree using any of the items above.
Make a Hawaiian Lei
On May 1st, people in Hawaii celebrate their own version of May Day; they call it Lei Day. People give Hawaiian leis to each other. They put them around each other's necks and sometimes give a traditional kiss.
Materials Needed:
•Colorful Construction Paper
•Colorful Straws
•Yarn
•Scissors
Instructions:
An easy project! Cut a length of yarn to hang loosely around your neck; make sure you cut it a little longer than you want it so you have room to tie the ends of the yarn together. Cut the straws into 1-inch long pieces.
Cut many colorful flower shapes out of construction paper. If you like, you can reduce the size of this flower pattern and use it. Use a hole puncher and put holes in the center of all your flowers.
Now that you have all your pieces prepared, you can start making your lei! Tie a small piece of straw onto the end of your piece of yarn. Start stringing your flowers and straw pieces onto the yarn. Alternate between flowers and straws. Once you get the design you want and the yarn piece is full, tie the two ends of the yarn together and wear your lei with pride!
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