1st May, making flower garlands

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Every Greek with respect for him/herself makes a flower garland on the 1st May. It has not been easy to find out why they do this, even after years of asking. Most will tell me it’s a tradition, something they do on this day without quite knowing why. A few have more concrete explanations. This is one: 1st May is also Labour Day. When the workers started to mark this day with parades, it became usual to carry flowers in the procession. This has developed into the tradition whereby everyone makes a flower garland to hang over their front doors.

 

 

The experts make beautiful garlands like this one

Another explanation I have been given is that the 1st May marks the end of winter. Winter clothes are put away and summer clothes brought out, and to mark the day, these flower garlands are made. Which of these 2 explanations is more correct is difficult to say. Maybe a combination of the two has caused the development of the tradition. But whatever the reason, there are many beautiful flower garlands made this day.

 

 

This is one hung over the entrance door with the light fitting as support

It is also tradition to go to the countryside to pick flowers. Mostly this is done in groups. We were allowed to take part in this here in Antiparos May 1st 2000.

 


 

A gathering of 5 experienced women who were real experts in making garlands. If I remember right, they made 12 garlands in all this day. Here are 4 of them. They made them for themselves and for some of their children.

 

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Another way to put the garland, specially for the photographer
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© Jan Bergtun, 02.04.2001 Updated, 02.07.2007
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