Custom of Giving Lily of the Valley on May 1st Dates Back to the Renaissance
Origins of the Tradition
The custom of giving lily of the valley on May 1st is believed to have originated during the Renaissance. According to legend, in 1560 King Charles IX received a bouquet of lily of the valley.
Royal Approval
The king was so delighted with the gift that he granted permission to sell lily of the valley in the streets without a license on May 1st. This tradition has continued to this day, and lily of the valley is now associated with the arrival of spring and the celebration of workers.
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