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Old 04-29-2014, 11:34 AM
 
Location: Jonesboro
3,874 posts, read 4,660,156 times
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Is May Day still celebrated in Iowa as sort of an informal, rite of spring type of day in Iowa that includes the giving of May Baskets?
It was a looked-forward-to minor holiday in past eras that could involve a Maypole, dressing in costumes, dancing & the giving of May Baskets to children.
I mentioned the day & the baskets to colleagues in the southeast & they had never heard of it.
Perhaps it's just one the midwest-centered delights that can enhance the life of a child.
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Old 04-29-2014, 12:13 PM
 
Location: Des Moines, Iowa
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Yes. My 7-year old made May baskets for some friends.

In some cases, they are just handed to people but the more traditional route (I believe) is to ring their door bell, set down the basket, and run (to try not be caught).
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Old 04-29-2014, 12:21 PM
 
Location: Des Moines Metro
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I haven't celebrated May Day since I lived in Michigan, but I'm looking forward to it.
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Old 04-29-2014, 12:25 PM
 
Location: Jonesboro
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In addition to the face-to-face method of taking them to school & giving baskets to friends, the doorbell-ringing, running away so as not to get caught formula is at the heart of fun in at least the post WW2 children's tradition.
My wonderful 2nd grade teacher lives on for me in a fond May Day memory.
I'm glad to know that it still exists as a rite of spring.
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Old 04-29-2014, 12:33 PM
 
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When we first moved here from California, one of our neighbors ask us if we celebrated May Day in CA. I didn't know what she was talking about and she told me that we would be in for a surprise. That morning, the doorbell started ringing continously with loads of May baskets left on the porch. We couldn't figure out what the heck was going on ... very exciting for my kids ... and me
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Old 04-29-2014, 01:58 PM
 
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I never did any sort of May Day anything living in Iowa.
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Old 04-29-2014, 02:26 PM
 
Location: Keosauqua, Iowa
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They were a big deal when I was a kid (in Illinois, not Iowa) but we haven't done any of the May day stuff with my daughter and haven't had anyone leave a May basket on my doorstep as an adult. I don't know if the tradition is fading or if it's just sort of regional.
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Old 04-29-2014, 04:12 PM
 
Location: Des Moines, Iowa
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Quote:
Originally Posted by duster1979 View Post
They were a big deal when I was a kid (in Illinois, not Iowa) but we haven't done any of the May day stuff with my daughter and haven't had anyone leave a May basket on my doorstep as an adult. I don't know if the tradition is fading or if it's just sort of regional.

...or if it is simply that no one likes us.

FIFY
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Old 04-29-2014, 04:14 PM
 
Location: Des Moines, Iowa
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Actually now that I think about it, when we were kids and first moved to Iowa from Minneapolis, some neighborhood kids did the basket/ring the doorbell at our house and we had no idea what this was about. My folks grew up in the Twin Cities and didn't know of the May Basket tradition until the fam moved to Iowa.
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Old 04-29-2014, 04:54 PM
 
Location: Keosauqua, Iowa
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Quote:
Originally Posted by capitalcityguy View Post
...or if it is simply that no one likes us.

FIFY
I'm guessing you're onto something here.
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