On May 1, parades and lily-of-the-valley are celebrated, and Monday, May 1, 2006, was no exception to the tradition. The tradition of lily-of-the-valley is not a new one. In 1561, King Charles X offered it to all the ladies of his court after receiving some on that same date, and he liked the idea. Thus, over the years, giving sprigs of lily-of-the-valley as a lucky charm became a habit. Some trace this custom even further back; the Celts’ New Year’s Day occurred at the beginning of May. They organized a large festival for this occasion, and lily-of-the-valley was associated with this celebration.
In the early 20th century, couturiers would give their employees a sprig of lily-of-the-valley on May 1. Inspired by this, in 1907, eighteen years after the first Labor Day, working-class people began replacing the wild rose flower on their jackets with a sprig of lily-of-the-valley.
On May 1, lily-of-the-valley is sold almost everywhere. From street corners to roadside stalls, occasional sellers seek their fortune through this plant, believed to bring them good luck. However, sales are regulated by commercial codes and municipal decrees. Thus, May 1 is a busy day for local police officers in Nice, who will again this year be tracking down anyone setting up a stall. As explained by Patricia Bain, a florist in Vallauris, “Some florists may be annoyed by these street vendors. However, the customer who buys lily-of-the-valley by the roadside doesn’t get the same service as they would from a florist. The decoration, the presentation, or even the delivery are all things that differentiate us, professionals, from amateurs. It’s up to the customers to make their choice.”
“Florists’ ‘services’ increase the cost of their lily-of-the-valley: €1.50 to €2 on the street compared to €2.50 to €4 at the florist’s. But by going to a shop or market, a customer likes to spend an extra two or three euros for a more aesthetic arrangement with a rose, wrapped more carefully, more pleasing to give than just a simple sprig. In old Nice, passersby echo Patricia: “I buy three or four simple sprigs for my daughter and friends, but for my wife, I go to a florist and choose potted lily-of-the-valley with some foliage, adorned with other flowers. I’ve gotten into this habit. If I change and give just a simple sprig to my wife, she might get upset,” explains Antoine in the watchful presence of his wife, Chantal.
“For us florists, May 1 is one of the busiest days. It can account for up to 25% of our annual turnover,” confides Patricia. With such significance, it’s easy to see why florists hold on to this tradition and why some view casual sellers with disfavor during this day. Supermarkets pose an even greater threat. They sell sprigs cheaper as they buy directly from producers. Azuréen florists go to the MIN. Wholesalers take a small margin, hence the price difference with supermarkets.
Know this: Lily-of-the-valley arrives at the MIN Fleurs in Nice a week before May 1. It should be chosen not too flowery; the top four bells should be green so that on the day, it is just right. Lily-of-the-valley comes from Nantes or Berlin. The difference is that the Berlin variety is larger with more bells, but the cost of transportation makes it more expensive. A tip to save money is to buy it potted and replant it, taking care to not damage the roots. Blooming remains uncertain. As we say on Valentine’s Day, don’t wait until February 14 to tell your sweetheart how much you love her; the same applies to lily-of-the-valley: Why wait until May 1 to offer this lucky charm… It is, after all, a good argument in case of late or early blooming of your lily-of-the-valley that you have carefully planted in your plot of land or on your balcony!
