How to help your kids celebrate Spring with a May Day tradition.

Looking for a fun way to celebrate springtime with your kids?

Want to share a May Day tradition that will make someone smile?

Surprise friends and neighbors with a May basket! A lovely (and secret) gift your family can make together.

In this article I will show you how to make a May Day basket filled with flowers to celebrate spring and then go a-Maying in your community to bring joy to someone's day.

Why go a-Maying?

May Day is a holiday celebrated around the world on May 1. It's especially fun for kids, since it involves making special baskets of flowers and mysteriously delivering them to friends and neighbors.

Going a-Maying is a fantastic way to get your kids face-to-face with all the budding, blossoming, good-smelling beauty of spring.

You've heard the saying, "stop and smell the roses." This activity has you literally stop and smell the flowers, gather them, put them in a special basket and secretly deliver them. What's "springier" than that?

May Day is an opportunity for you and your kids to reach out to your community. Though this holiday is not as widely celebrated in America as it once was, there's a good chance the older people near you know all about going a-Maying. Through this activity, younger people will learn about it too.

The most important part: a May basket from your kids will surely make someone's day! And practicing and sharing this spring ritual can help ensure this beautiful tradition continues into the future.

What is May Day?

May Day is part of America's European heritage. It stems back to Rome and their annual Festival of Flora. This celebration of the summer solstice--and the new growing season--was a time of joy and hope after a long winter.

The way people celebrate has evolved over time to include Maypole dancing, electing a May Queen and King for your town and going a-Maying. 

"There's not a budding boy or girl this day,
But is got up, and gone to bring in May."

From a poem by 17th-century English poet,
Robert Herrick.

Historically, when people would go a-Maying, they'd head out to the woods and fields to pick flowers, herbs, greens, sprigs and twigs, and collect them into baskets. Then they'd decorate their houses and the houses of their friends and neighbors with their literal "gathering of spring."

This is where the tradition of making May baskets and leaving them on others' doorsteps started. 

When I was a girl growing up on a farm, my sisters and I loved this fun spring tradition. On May 1, our mother always helped us make paper baskets called tussie-mussies or nosegays. Then we went for a walk to pick flowers and other pretty vegetation that grew along our riverbank.

Spring. Flowers. Spreading cheer in your community. These things make May Day the perfect family tradition. 

Let's get started!

You will need:

• 1 large roll of heavy brown kraft paper 
• 1 large paper cake-plate doily (1 per basket)
• 1 spool of ribbon (about 4 yards)
• Scrapbook paper (1 sheet per basket)
• Black card stock (1 sheet per basket)
• 1 glue stick (extra-strength)
• Scissors
• White acrylic paint
• Paint brush
• White gel pen
• Ruler or a measuring tape
• Flowers and greens

Ribbons and doilies and paints,
oh my. You will need a variety 
of craft supplies for this project.

Preparation time:

15 minutes 

Activity time:

• 30 minutes to make the basket
• 30 minutes for a nature walk to collect flowers and greens.
• 15-20 minutes for May Day basket drop-off

Location: 

• Inside for the craft
• Outside for the nature walk and going a-Maying

#1: Form a sturdy tussie-mussie (or paper cone)

To make a tussie-mussie, cut a 15 X 15 inch (38 X 38 cm) square of heavy brown paper from the roll. Lay it face up so the curl rolls inward (toward the center). This curling will greatly help you form the cone shape you want.

Note: The "rollie-pollie" nature of the paper can make these first steps awkward, so you may need to give your child some extra help.

Next, glue a 12 X 12 inch (30 X 30 cm) piece of scrapbook paper in the left upper corner, leaving a 1-inch (2.5 cm) border of brown paper on the left and top edges. The bottom and right borders should be about 2 inches (5 cm) wide.

Line the brown paper with printed
scrapbook paper to add a nice
spring color to your May basket.

From the top left corner, measure 10 1/2 inches (26 cm) down the left side and mark the spot. Repeat this step on the top edge, measuring from the top left corner 10 1/2 inches (26 cm) to the right. Mark this spot, too.

Mark the places where both sides
should meet. This will help you
center the V-shaped opening
at the front of the cone.

Roll the paper so the left and right sides meet at the two places you just marked. If you match these marks, it'll help center the V-shaped opening at the front of the cone.

Pinch this spot with one hand, while gently squeezing the rest of the roll into a neat cone. The narrow end should come together, leaving little or no hole at the bottom. However, a small opening is fine, because you'll be trimming and folding this part soon.

Now, turn the cone face-down to expose the seam for gluing. Again, these last couple of steps require a little extra parent help. Your kids may need you to hold the cone together while they spread glue on the exposed edge of the roll. Press the glued seam from the inside of the cone until it holds. 

Match the two marks, hold them in
place and squeeze the rest of the
roll into a neat cone.

To close the bottom of the cone, measure 5 inches (12 cm) from the narrow end, then cut straight across. Fold the cut edge toward the back and glue (or tape or staple) in place. This end will be covered, so don't worry how it looks if you use tape or staples.

Cut the first 5 inches (12 cm) off
the boom of the cone. Then
fold it up and glue in place.

Now that you've made the cone, it's time to make the basket pretty!

#2: Decorate the May basket

Glue the doily around the cone. Place the top edge of the doily about 1 1/2 inches (4 cm) below the cone's opening, so the doily hangs over the end of the cone. 

Flip the cone over and glue the doily so the edges meet down the middle at the back. Then fold the extra over the end and glue in place.

A paper doily gives the
tussie-mussie a sweet,
lacy look.

Next, make a "Happy May Day" tag for your basket.

Use a piece of black card stock to make a chalkboard look. With a white gel pen, draw an oblong shape about 2 X 3 inches (5 X 7 1/2 cm). Cut it out and flip it over, so the outline doesn't show. Then use the gel pen to draw white designs around the edge and write "Happy May Day."

Make your "Happy May Day"
tag look like a vintage
chalkboard. Just cut out
black card stock and write
on it with a white gel pen.

Remember: Do not write whom the basket is from--it's supposed to be a mystery!

#3: Attach a ribbon to hang the basket

Since you're going to be hanging these on people's doors, you'll need to add a ribbon as a handle. The first thing you have to do is reinforce the spots where the ribbon will come through the paper. 

Cut two 1 X 1 inch (2 1/2 X 2 1/2 cm) scraps of the brown paper and glue them on the sides of your cone about 2 inches (5 cm) from the top edge.

Reinforce where the ribbon will
come through by adding an
extra layer of brown paper.

Using scissors, carefully poke a hole in the center of each reinforced square. Since the angle will be a little tricky, you'll probably want to do this step yourself. 

Now cut a length of ribbon about 16 inches (40 cm) long. Poke the ribbon ends through the reinforced holes you made. Knot the ribbon so it holds securely.

You may need to knot the ribbon twice to be sure it won't pull through the holes.

Knot the ribbon at both ends.

Trim off any excess ribbon, and you're good to go.

#4: Paint final touches

This final decorating step should be done after the ribbon is added and all the other handling is done. That way, the paint won't get smudged. 

Using the white paint, touch the tip of a paintbrush to the brown paper just above the edge of the doily, creating a row of dots that follows the scalloped edge of the doily. This adds to the lacy look.

Painted white dots add
a fancy touch.

When you're done painting, set aside the basket to dry. 

It's time to venture out into spring with your kids to collect flowers!

#5: Go a-Maying!

Now comes the most beautiful part: gathering flowers and sharing spring with your community.

Take a nature walk with your kids and gather flowers and other greens for your May baskets. Explain to your kids that they can only pick flowers from certain places...not from the neighbors' yards.

Add greens to your bouquet
of flowers. They add texture
and interest, as well as more
options of what to gather on
your nature walk.

A nature walk is a really good way to help your kids connect with and celebrate spring, which is what May Day is all about.

This part of the activity is also a nice opportunity to make memories with your kids. Frolic right alongside them, whether it's down a jogging trail, through a park, in an open field, on a school playground--almost anywhere things are growing.

Note: If you live in the city or have limited space to pick flowers in your neighborhood, you can always go to a local farmers' market and buy flowers to put in your May baskets.

Here's a verse from an old folk song to keep you company while you frolic:

Summer is coming, oh, summer is near
With the leaves on the trees and the sky blue and clear
Small birds are singing their fond notes so true
And wild flowers are springing in the May morning dew...

--Verse from an old folk song, May Morning Dew

No matter how you choose to gather spring into your baskets, once you're done, you'll be ready to spread spring around your community!

Before you head out, here are a few tips to help keep this May Day adventure safe:

• No strangers. Obviously, your kids should approach only the doors of the people they know.

• Two is company. This is a family adventure, so be sure to go along with your kids as they go a-Maying. It's safer...and much more fun!

• Front doors only.  It's customary to leave the May basket at the front door.

Now, Grab your baskets and go a-Maying with your kids!

Just sneak up to the person's door, hang the May basket on the knob...

Be really quiet when you
hang your May basket!

Ring the bell...

Then run lickety-split...

Have your hiding spot
picked out before you
ring the bell!

And hide!

Try not to make a sound!

You and your kids will want to watch from your hiding spot as the person opens the door and finds their surprise.

You better not get caught or you just might get a hug.

Happy May Day!

Some final thoughts...

Celebrating May Day will give your kids a glorious spring experience, which includes a craft, nature walk and outreach to family, friends and neighbors. 

Your kids will remember this holiday activity, not only for the blossoms on the outside, but also for the joy they'll discover blooming on the inside.

So what do you think? Did you ever celebrate May Day as a child? Or is this the first time you've heard about this custom of going a-Maying? I'd love to hear from you in the comments below. 

Happy Spring!

Joy--Fearless Farm Girl,

"Farm girl: it's a verb, because it's what you do."

Note: I originally wrote this article for My Kids Adventures. It first published on their website April 14, 2014. Now, it is being republished here.

Create a time capsule with your kids for their future selves.

Whether you home-school your kids, or just want to enjoy a meaningful activity with your family, this activity is perfect:

Do your kids ever wonder what they'll be like when they grow up?

Are they obsessed with time travel (or at least intrigued by the idea)? 

Do their jaws drop open when you tell them what life was like when you were a kid?

Until someone invents a time machine that works, today's activity is the next-best thing to time travel. But hang onto your seat: This adventure won't be over until your child has his birthday--10 years from now. (Trust me, it'll be worth the wait!)

In this article I'll show you how to help your kids create a top-secret (birthday) time capsule their future selves will treasure for a lifetime.

Why? Time capsules are a fantastic way to take a slice of the present and preserve it for the future.

Your kids will have the opportunity to reach out to their future selves. What might your 10-year-old daughter say to her 20-year-old self? What special memories will that 20-year-old girl uncover when she opens the birthday time capsule from her younger self?

Make a time capsule and find out.

I buried a time capsule once. Have you? When I was 12, my twin sister and I buried one on our farm. (READ the entire story here).

We filled a metal lunchbox with items popular with kids in the 1970's. Things like a bucket of Slime (something from the toy store that looked and felt like snot). A plastic Shrinky Dink I'd colored and baked in the oven. Barbie doll stuff, a painted pet rock, shells from our grandma's beach. And of course a note...

What are Shrinky Dinks? Shrinky Dinks were invented in 1973. Watch this short You-Tube video to see Shrinky Dinks  in action. Fun farmgirl fact: According to Wikipedia, Shrinky Dinks were first invented by two housewives (Betty Morris and Kate Bloomberg)  from Wisconsin in 1973. Once the women's homemade kits became popular, the product was licensed and manufactured by the major toy companies of the time.

...We'd heard that someday the city would expand and our farm would be overrun with streets and houses. We wanted people to know about the girls who had lived there in the past. 

Years later, long after Dad sold the farm and we moved away, we found out they were going to tear down the house, so my sister and I asked if we could go dig up our time capsule. 

We gathered our husbands and all of our kids and trooped off to the old homestead for a real-live treasure hunt.

After 34 years, pulling our treasures from the rusty old lunchbox felt amazing. Each item was a magical key to the past that unlocked forgotten memories--stories we could share with our kids. 

Just think how much more powerful our experience might have been if we'd created our time capsule with ourselves in mind as the recipients! That's what your kids will do in this fun and super meaningful activity.

Let's get started!

You will need:

• A sturdy box for each of your kids (like a shoebox)*
• 3-5 sheets of white and colored cardstock
• 3-5 sheets of scrapbook paper
• 6-8 envelopes in sizes from miniature to letter-size
• 1 roll of colored duct tape
• Paper label tags (to tie on and label mementos)
• Ribbon or string
• Pen / pencil
• Scissors
• Glue stick
• Alphabet and number stickers
• A blank card with envelope (blank inside and out)
• Birthday-themed stickers or other decorative decals
• Small label stickers (to label envelopes)
• A letter from you to each of your kids (step #1)
• Memorabilia representing your child's life today (step #5)

* You can find plain shoebox size storage boxes at craft stores.

       All the supplies you'll need for this no-mess paper project.

Preparation time:

30 minutes for you to gather up the basic supplies, while your

kids gather mementos and memorabilia. 

Additional time: Step #1 will take additional time and should be

done ahead--and the dedication before sealing the capsule will

take additional time. (This can also be a separate event if you

want, but it should happen shortly after the capsule is finished.)

Activity time:

About 2 hours.

Location: 

Inside the house.

Encourage your kids to take their time. After all, they're creating a gift for one of the most important people they'll ever know: themselves.

#1: Write a secret letter to each of your kids.

Before you start this activity with your kids, take a few minutes to write a short letter to each child. Make the letters meaningful and heartfelt as you tell your grown-up kids in the future what they're like as children today.

Write a letter to your kids' future selves.
iStockphoto / arekmalang

If you limit the letters to one page (or half page), they won't seem overwhelming. Just share the highlights.

When you're done, seal each letter and set them aside. You'll surprise your kids with them right before they seal their time capsules. 

#2: Decorate the time capsule.

Using colored cardstock, scrapbook paper and birthday stickers, decorate the lid of the box. Make it look like a birthday gift. 

A good way to draw your kids into 
the project is to have  them decorate
the box first. 

Use the alphabet/ number stickers to write Top Secret and Don't open until (child's birthdate 10 years from now).

While it's not really necessary to decorate the box, it's a fun part of the project to do with your kids. Creating a custom box will give the time capsule an air of importance and get kids invested in the project. 

In 10 years, your kids will be glad 
they created this box
of memories. 

#3: Capture snippets of who your kids are right now.

Cut pieces of cardstock or lined index cards to fit into the miniature envelopes.

Using the ideas below, help your kids create lists and other written details that form a snapshot of who they are today.

The small size of these cards will
keep the writing activities short, while
still capturing who your kids
are and what's important to them.

Encourage your kids to hand-write the cards. The more recording they can do in their own handwriting, the more meaningful this gift will be to their future selves. 

The whole idea is for your children's future selves to encounter their younger selves again. Messy, childish writing is part of that.

Here are some topics to write about on the cards:

(Be sure to title and date each card)

List of favorite...

• Song artists
• Songs
• Foods
• Games
• Hobbies
• Toys
• Books
• Movies
• Celebrities
• Sports teams

Other lists can include...

• Top ten family memories
• Who your kids' friends are
• Wish list (could be anything)
• Child's age, weight, height
• Prices for things like gas and food
• Top ten song artists in the country right now
• Colors and styles of clothes that are popular right now
• Technology being used right now
• Words used now meaning "cool"--"not cool" (Groovy!)
• Dreams for the future ("When I grow up, I'll...")

Other non-list prompts...

• Tell how they got their current nickname
• Tell about who they most admire right now
• Describe in 5 words their room, pet, family member, etc.
• Tell who their best friend is and how they met
• Offer a piece of wisdom to their future selves
• Tell about something they got in trouble for recently
• Tell about something that earned them praise recently
• Describe what a perfect day would look like

Title each card and slip them inside the envelopes, but wait to seal them. Your children will want to share them in a short dedication ceremony (discussed later).

On the outside of the envelope, 
affix a label sticker and record the
title of the card inside.

When you're done, place the unsealed envelopes inside the box.

#4: Make a birthday card and write a letter for the future.

Since the time capsule will be opened on your child's birthday, 10 years in the future, include a birthday card with this very special present. 

Make a blank card from cardstock and use the craft supplies you've gathered to help your kids create a handmade birthday card.

Making their own card, instead of
using a store-bought one is another good
way for your kids o express who
they are now.

Cut a piece of notebook paper to fit inside the card. This is where your kids can write a letter to their future selves. Here are some ideas of what to write:

Dear future (child's name),

Happy birthday!

You are now (child's age in 10 years). I am writing to you when I'm (child's current age). I...(your kids can describe themselves--not just looks, but what they like, are good at, enjoy doing, etc.). When I think about you in the future, I ...(dream of, imagine, want, wonder, hope, etc.).

(Signature)

Have your kids write a letter to their
future selves.  Include whatever they
think is important to share about
their lives today.

Provide a separate piece of paper cut down to fit inside the handmade birthday card to help your child feel "safe" to write a longer letter without fear of messing up the card. (It's easier to start over on paper than it is on the card.)

Encourage your kids to take their time writing to their future selves, like they might to a best friend. This letter will be very meaningful to them when they open it in the future--if for no other reason than simply learning what was important to the younger versions of themselves. 

They should include anything they think is important for their future selves to know about their lives today.

Place your child's letter in the birthday
card and slip it into the envelope, 
but wait to seal it until later.

When they're finished with their letter, your kids can decorate the envelope with birthday stickers. Label the envelope like the other smaller ones, but wait to seal it until after the dedication ceremony. Place it in the box.

#5: Gather and label memorabilia.

You kids have written down lots of good information about the present to share in the future, but it's also important to include some "stuff" that's representative of their lives today. 

Kids' hair can change a lot in 10 years. 
Including a lock might be fun. 
Likewise, tracings of their hands
and feet will be fun to compare to
those of their future selves.

Let your child choose items to include in the time capsule. Make sure everything fits in the box. 

Important note: Avoid placing food, batteries or anything with moisture in your time capsule. These will likely ruin the contents over time. However, 2 or 3 small, clean wrappers from your kids' favorite snack foods might be fun to include.

  Ideas for mementos to include:

• A current portrait of your child 
• A current family portrait
• Photos of your child with friends / family doing fun things
• Place photos, like of your child's house, room, your car
• Swatches of wallpaper, fabric and paint from your home
• A favorite t-shirt, hat or other small piece of clothing
• A recent piece of artwork by your child
• A birthday card from your child's last birthday
• 3-5 empty clean wrappers from favorite snack foods
• A price list for things like gas, eggs, milk, a burger, candy
• Lists of favorites, like music, movies, books, foods
• Front page of today's newspaper
• A favorite thing, like a small toy, book, piece of jewelry
• CD, DVD, or Blu-ray (think how fast technology changes!)
• Letters, postcards, printed emails important to your child
• Outlines of your child's hands and feet, cut out of paper
• A self-portrait your child has drawn
• A stat-sheet of your child's weight, height, age
• A lock of hair (it'll change a lot in 10 years!)

Together, record the story behind each piece of memorabilia on label tags.

Your kids may think they'll remember why they put a memento in their box, but in 10 years, they'll be glad they wrote it down. Also, what they write and how they write it are yet further expressions of who they are today.

Label every item included in the box. 
Tell what it is and why it's included
in the time capsule.

On your tags, include where each item came from, why it's important, etc. If it's artwork, tell what the picture is about, when it was drawn, etc.

Attach the label with ribbon or string. Artwork may be rolled and tied to help it fit inside the box.

A self-portrait is a wonderful way for
your kids to express who they are
right now. Artwork can be rolled, 
labeled, tied and packed into the box.

Be sure to include photographs not only of your kids, but also of the commonplace things you see or use every day. Take a picture of your house, your car, your pets. Include a school or family portrait, photos of your kids' school or room, activities with family and friends, and important events that took place in the last year. 

Include photos of where you live. 
It may look a lot different
in 10 years.

Make a simple photo album from cardstock and be sure to include details about each photo.

Once everything is labeled, arrange all of the memorabilia in the box so it fits nicely. Now it's time for the dedication ceremony.

#6: Hold a dedication ceremony.

Invite the family to a small dedication ceremony where the kids present what is included in their time capsules. This can be the same day, or another time soon after your kids finish their time capsules. This doesn't have to be a huge affair, but try to make it memorable. You might serve some kind of refreshments. 

Give your full attention by asking questions like:

• What made you choose to include this item?
• What memories do you hope to share with your future self by including this?
• Which part of making your time capsule did you enjoy the most?

Make the dedication ceremony
memorable to your kids by showing
interest with engaging questions.

When your kids are finished presenting, congratulate them. Then surprise them with the secret letter you've been holding back for each of them. 

You might say, "There's one more thing that has to be included," and then present the sealed letter(s). They'll have to wait 10 years to read them!

Seal all the envelopes containing your
children's thoughts.  They'll be like
tiny gifts to open in 10 years.

At the end of the dedication ceremony, seal all of the envelopes. Attach a small birthday sticker to each seal. Sweet! Each envelope is like a mini-present to open in the future.

Sealing everything up is an important
step.  This will help ensure the whole
10 years will pass before the contents
of the box are seen again.

Use the colored duct tape to help your kids tape the lids onto their boxes so nothing can get into or out of the time capsule.

#7: Hide the time capsule.

Hide the time capsule indoors. Burying it outside may sound fun, but it's much more risky. The location might be forgotten. Or the contents could get ruined (take it from someone who buried her stuff in metal lunchbox: It didn't hold up nearly as well as it would have indoors).

Now it's time to hide your capsule
somewhere indoors.

Inside your house, choose a place where the time capsule will be safe, dry and not forgotten. Perhaps in a plastic tub in the attic, or in a corner of your closet. Record its location and file it away where you keep important documents. 

Now, you and your kids can try to forget about it for the next 10 years!

Some final thoughts...

Making a time capsule is well worth the effort. As my own experience with a childhood time capsule will attest, this adventure is one that really stands the test of time! (Read my entire time capsule story here.)

I hope you will make a time capsule with your kids and share the joy of making it now and opening it many years from now. You'll be glad you did.

What do you think?  Did you ever do a time capsule yourself? have you ever wished you did? Now you can help your kids make one. What things will you and your kids include? I'd love to hear from you in the comments below. 

Joy--Fearless Farm Girl,

"Farm girl: it's a verb, because it's what you do."

Note: I originally wrote this article for My Kids Adventures. It first published on their website January 6, 2014. Now, it is republished here.