Let’s Bring Back May Baskets!

It’s May Day! There was a time when folks spent the day dancing around the May pole, crowning a May queen, and lighting bonfires. Most of these traditions have faded over time, but there’s one in particular that feels like it’s needed right now: May baskets.

The May basket tradition dates back to the 1800s, but somewhere in the latter half of the 1900s, it began to disappear. These baskets were often just a simple paper cone with a handle, though some were more elaborately constructed. They were filled with candy or baked goods or homemade popcorn, and topped with freshly-picked wildflowers. Here’s where the tradition gets really fun: you’d bring it to a neighbor’s home at dusk, hang it on their doorknob, knock or ring their doorbell, yell “May basket!” and then run away. Kind of like a much friendlier version of the ding dong ditch. Sometimes there were romantic undertones – if there was mutual interest between the basket hanger and the basket receiver, the receiver would give chase, and if they caught the hanger, there might be a kiss. But at its heart, the May basket tradition was just a nice, neighborly thing to do.

This hints at one possible explanation for why the tradition has faded: neighbors aren’t as close anymore. So on this beautiful May Day, take the opportunity to get to know yours! Make a handful of baskets. Depending on how much time you have to bake, fill them with baked goods or (wrapped) candy, and add some flowers. Then bring them to your neighbors! The ding dong ditch version, while fun and exciting, doesn’t quite lend itself to neighborly interactions, so we recommend choosing folks you’d like to get to know better and either including a card or just waiting for them to answer the door. Regardless, you’ll spread some joy, hopefully spark some new friendships, and maybe even start a new May Day tradition in your neighborhood.

Let us know how it goes! Share your May basket experiences with us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.