Posted by linda
on 4/19/2003, 6:05 pm, in reply to "May day baskets"
24.62.231.128
I also used to "hang May Baskets". To make them we would attach a pipe cleaner to a paper cup (for a handle). We might cover the pipe cleaner with crepe paper and attach a small homemade flower to the handle (made of several very small petals).
For the basket, we would cut petals out of crepe paper shaped like a closed letter "U". We glued the bottom of each "U" shaped petal around the base of a paper cup, rounded ends at the top - taller than the cup. We would overlap these petals and sometimes go around the cup 2 or 3 times. Once we had enough petals, we would curl the top edge of each petal around a pencil to fold back the ends of the petal. Just below the curled ends, we would use our fingers to sort of stretch out the crepe paper a bit. Basically we were surrounding the cup with a formed flower. We might do a layer of one color around and then another (red and pink, or yellow and red, etc.). Then we would cut a strip of green "grass" crepe paper with the top having a jagged, grassy-like edge. This would get wrapped around the base of the cup. It would also hide all the glue mess.
We would "hang our baskets" at a friends door and run. If they caught us, they would kiss us.
Enjoy and Happy May Day. I will tell my Granddaughter about the custom this year and make May Baskets with her. Can't wait!
Message Thread:
« Back to thread