Muguet

n. – lily of the valley
Jour férrié
n. – day to be celebrated or day off
May 1st signifies the first day of summer in France or the equivalent of Labor Day. Of course, they get the summer started off earlier here rather than wait until the end of May like we do and as such, May 1st is actually the first of several holidays during the month. Lilies of the Valley are sold everywhere and the scent of the delicate flowers permeates the air. I read somewhere that the flowers are also known as “our lady’s tears” signifying the tears shed by Eve when she and Adam were forced out of the Garden of Eden. But that connotation is a bit sad to think of when celebrating the first day of summer with such a pretty fragrant little flower.