Ist May French Vintage and Victorian Cards

The French tradition of giving lily-of-the-valley (muguet) flowers on May Day

is supposed to have begun on 1st May 1561, when King Charles IX of France

was presented with a bunch of lily-of-the-valley flowers

as a token of luck and prosperity for the coming year.

History does not record who it was that presented the King with this perfumed gift,

but he took a shine to this idea and began the custom of presenting muguet flowers

to the ladies of his court each year on May 1st.

From around 1900 it became traditional in France for men

to present a bouquet of muguet flowers

to their sweethearts to express their love and affection.

Nowadays muguet flowers are also given as a general token of appreciation

between close friends and family members.

This custom has now been adopted by other european countries.

(Not in England unfortunately!!!!!)