Where Did the Tradition of May Day Baskets Come From?

The notion of celebrating May 1 is thought to come from the pagan festival of Beltane, which marks the peak of spring and the coming of summer, celebrated in Ireland and Scotland. The idea of secretly delivering baskets of treats on this day dates back to the 19th century. Since then, the popularity of this sweet tradition has waxed and waned, but we think it's time for a full-on comeback.

Here are a bunch of ideas for what to make your May Day baskets out of as well as what to put in them. All are easily made in multiples so you can spread the springtime cheer to all your favorite people. Choose your favorite basket, assemble a bunch of them, and have fun making somebody's May Day.

Brie Passano

May Day Basket with Flowers

Looking for easy May basket ideas? Upcycle a berry basket from the grocery store into a cute floral arrangement. Either a heavy cardboard berry basket or a lightweight wooden one works. Fill the basket with a variety of flowers tucked into a small jar or two of water. Then print our free May Day tags and glue one to the basket. Add the tag to a slightly larger piece of patterned wrapping or scrapbook paper to make the tag pop. Your friend will love opening the front door to this sweet little bouquet.

Brie Passano

DIY May Day Cards

This handmade May Day card is a great way to use up leftover scrapbook or tissue paper. First, cut ten 4-inch circles from tissue paper. Cut the edges so they are wavy and scalloped. Stack the circles loosely and staple them together in the center. Bend each layer upward and fluff it out to look like a flower. Then, attach your finished flower to a piece of patterned cardstock using washi tape. Add a sweet message, but don't sign your name to keep with the May Day tradition. Tape or clip your card to a gourmet chocolate bar or your treat of choice and leave it on their doorstep.

Brie Passano

May Day Bouquet Wrap

Add a handle to this May Day basket so it can be hung on the recipient's doorknob. Roll a triangle of pretty patterned scrapbook paper into a cone shape and secure the edges with tape. Punch a hole on each side of the opening and thread a colorful ribbon through, tying the ribbon at the top of each hole. Fill with fresh spring flowers or lightweight treats such as popcorn and candies.

To keep the flowers looking fresh (in case your basket sits at the front door for a while), put the stems in a plastic bag filled with a little water or a couple of wet cotton balls. Seal the plastic bag to the stems with a rubber band and hide the band with a ribbon.

Brie Passano

May Day Gift Tags

Here's a great way to dress up a small wrapped gift for May Day. Make a see-through gift tag filled with dried flower petals, which are easy and fun to make yourself. To create, cut a square or rectangle from card stock or scrapbooking paper. Cut out a smaller square from the center of the tag. Fill a small transparent plastic envelope with dried petals and tape to the back of the tag. Attach to your May Day gift and add one of our free printable gift tags (above).

Brie Passano

Make your own dried flowers! For many you can leave them in an empty vase in a cool room with low humidity. This works mostly for flowers with sturdy stems. For other types, you can tie a bouquet together then hang flowers upside down.

May Day Mason Jar Bouquet

The humble, ubiquitous Mason jar makes a cute, country-inspired May Day basket, and putting it together couldn't be easier. Fill a small, wide-mouth Mason jar with fresh flowers. Dress up the rim with leather cord, twine, or ribbon and tie on one of our free printable gift tags. A handful of blooms in spring colors like pinks, purples, and pale greens look festive and springy. Or forego the flowers and fill the jar with treats. Or layer up a parfait of several kinds of your friend's favorite candies then add a lid decorated with a circle of pretty paper.

What to Put in a May Day Basket

When it comes to treats to put in your May Day baskets, almost anything goes, but you do want to make sure they are easy to make in bulk, easy to transport, and hold up well if they're left outdoors for a little while. You can definitely use store-bought treats and candies, but if you want to go the extra mile with homemade, here are some ideas that fit those requirements:

• Everybody loves cookies. Make them small so they fit in your container of choice.
• Mini loaves or thick slices of banana bread or any favorite quick bread. Wrap them in plastic or beeswax wraps so they stay fresh.
• Homemade trail mix can be customized with all your friends' favorite flavors.
• Homemade chocolate candies are well suited for making in bulk.

More May Day Basket Ideas

Upcycle an empty whipped topping tub by covering the outside with a band of colorful scrapbook paper. Punch two holes on either side of the tub near the top and make a hanger by running twine or ribbon through the holes and tying it in place.

Cardboard popcorn boxes from a party supply store also make unique May Day baskets. You can use either the open-top ones or the rectangular ones that close at the top. Punch a hole on each side and string ribbon through for a handle. Pop a fresh batch of popcorn, throw in a handful of candies that won't melt, and deliver.