May Basket on...

Do you remember the tradition of hanging a May basket? Was this part of your childhood? It was almost Easter, and suddenly I was pulled back to my own childhood, and the wonderful Spring rite of hanging a May basket.

I grew up in the country hills of northern New England, and when May came around, Spring was in the air. Trees were growing little leaves, daffodils and tulips- and forsythia!- brightened the landscape, often under grey skies, and the air was cool and humid. Mom and Dad would fill a May basket with candy and secretly get brothers, sisters and neighborhood kids on board, and suddenly, "May basket on..." whoever was the lucky recipient everyone would yell. In our family, a tag game ensued then, and when the final person had been tagged, the May basket winner would share the candy- but would keep most of it. All of us kids benefitted at some point during the month, in fairness (and because Mom LOVED to hang a May basket), so the rite continued throughout the month. We would even solicit one parent to help us kids hang a May basket on the other.

And thus Spring was allowed to commence fully. The grass would grow greener and taller, faster, the leaves would soon be large enough to provide shade on the back lawn, and Summer would be near, when school ended and us kids could stay outside and up late.

Earlier in my childhood, before Mom went to work full-time, she would babysit the kids in the neighborhood. She would kick us all out of the house so she could mop the floors, and then she would make us fresh donuts! Dad taught us to mow the lawn on his fancy little yellow riding mower- and when some of us wanted to drive it around, he was spared that chore.

But that was in Summer. First, May baskets must be hung as a sign of Spring abundance, and for fun outside in the fresh cool air after a cold winter. And to bring our family, often at odds, together.

What traditions do you recall- and which ones have you kept?

Happy Spring!