Lily of the Valley – a French tradition on 1st May

Lily of the Valley is traditionally sold on 1^st May in France. If you live in France, you will see roadside stands or people in front of supermarkets selling small bunches of Lily of the Valley called Muguets in French.

The flowers sell lovely. They are one of my favorite flowers. I always have a vase on my desk and on the kitchen table filled with Muguets.

Beware: I have just read that all parts, including the berries, of the lily of the valley are highly poisonous. Thank you Wikipedia for this precious information!

May 1st is a public holiday in France; it is the French Labor Day. All shops are shut! It falls on a Saturday this year (2010) so if you are renting out a gite in France this year, make sure you bring some food with you for the first day of your stay or ask your hosts to shop for you!