ALBANY - At the end of April in past years, people would begin gathering flowers and candies and other goodies to put in May baskets to hang on the doors of friends, neighbors and loved ones May 1. Considered quaint now, in decades past May Basket Day, like the ancient act of dancing around the maypole, was a widespread rite of spring in the United States.
Through the 19th and 20th centuries, May Basket Day celebrations took place across the nation. The Taunton, Massachusetts, Gazette told the story of two bold children who hung May baskets on the White House front door on May Day 1925. First lady Grace Coolidge found her admirers and gave them flowers she had picked from the White House grounds.
To celebrate the tradition, the Next Generation 4H Club arranged 14 May baskets and delivered them April 29 to the residents of Albany Oaks Assisted Living Home.
The club collected items ranging from hand lotion and word search books to candy and baked items for their baskets.
The group visited with the residents that afternoon and left with the promise to be back at Christmas to refill the baskets.
Through the 19th and 20th centuries, May Basket Day celebrations took place across the nation. The Taunton, Massachusetts, Gazette told the story of two bold children who hung May baskets on the White House front door on May Day 1925. First lady Grace Coolidge found her admirers and gave them flowers she had picked from the White House grounds.
To celebrate the tradition, the Next Generation 4H Club arranged 14 May baskets and delivered them April 29 to the residents of Albany Oaks Assisted Living Home.
The club collected items ranging from hand lotion and word search books to candy and baked items for their baskets.
The group visited with the residents that afternoon and left with the promise to be back at Christmas to refill the baskets.