May Day

When Maria was small, she lived in the northern state of Michigan - a state where there are proper seasons. As you may have guessed, Maria loved the outdoors, especially during the spring and summer. She loved the soft breeze and the bright sun. She loved the smell of rain showers and fresh grass and blooming flowers.

Maria would roam around the farm, picking fruits and vegetables whenever she was hungry - whatever was in season. She would always look for flowers to braid into crowns. She even thought dandelions were beautiful in a braided crown. When the bluebells would bloom in the side garden, she would sing the rhyme:
"Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow? With bluebells and cockleshells and pretty maidens all in a row."
She especially loved the heavy sweet lilacs that grew on a vine on the side of the house.

On May Day, every year, Maria would roll a large piece of paper into a cone. Then she would tape or staple a handle to the top of the cone. She would walk around the farm and gather all the flowers she could find and would fill up the cone. Then she would hang the May Basket on the doorknob, ring the doorbell and quickly hide in the bushes.

Maria's mother would open the door and look around to see who was there. Then she would see the May Basket and her eyes would light up with surprise and she would smile. Maria always giggled, unable to contain her excitement and happiness.

Maria's mother would take the flowers inside and place them in a vase on the counter. Maria would come indoors and her mother would point out the flowers saying, "Maria - look what someone left on the door!"

Maria would smile big and say, "They are so pretty."

She never told her mother who left the flowers there.