Happy May Day! And a little teaser of CHOCOLATE TOUCH
Happy May Day! In France, you give lilies-of-the-valley (muguets) today to people to bring good fortune and happiness (porter bonheur). So some muguets for you and a little glimpse of THE CHOCOLATE TOUCH to go with it.
THE CHOCOLATE TOUCH EXCERPT:
It was a soft day, balmy and gentle, with clouds that hinted at rain but never quite delivered. The fresh lemon scent of lilies-of-the-valley was everywhere, as vendors wandered the streets or stationed themselves at prominent corners with buckets full of them, culled from the woods outside of Paris. Florists sold more formally acquired bunches of the muguets, in pots or bouquets, the little white bells dangling sweetly everywhere they looked.
Dom had bought her several bouquets already, after surviving having his heart broken into tiny pieces by the bouquet that Jaime had snuck into the bathroom while he was showering. No one ever, in his whole life, had given him a little bouquet of lilies-of-the-valley on May 1 to wish him fortune and happiness.
“Ça porte bonheur, oui?” she had asked shyly.
And it did bring happiness. Oh, it did.
It was amazing how much sweeter the muguets on every street corner smelled when someone had given some to you, too.
Chachic
That seems like such a lovely tradition! Back in Manila and Singapore, May 1 is a holiday because of Labor Day but there aren’t any traditions like giving flowers for good fortune. Ahhhh, can’t wait to read The Chocolate Touch!
Emma
Lilies of valley were in my (May) wedding bouquet so I have always loved them; I didn’t know the May Day association, however. Thank you for sharing this!
Chanpreet
Happy May Day! I learned something new today about lilies-of-the-valley. Plus the excerpt of The Chocolate Touch. How wonderful is that? Thanks Laura! 🙂
Laura Florand
I *love* the tradition of lilies-of-the-valley in France. It’s also what we consider our anniversary (my husband and I started dating then). And when we bought our first house after we were married, imagine how we felt when the first spring, lilies-of-the-valley sprouted up all around it, blooming everywhere! Apparently the woman who had first owned it had been a wonderful gardener.