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Washington Evening Journal
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Washington, IA 52353
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WMU students spread May Day Cheer
Mary Miller continues May Day tradition of spreading cheer
WINFIELD — That’s right, kids still make May Day baskets, at least fourth grade students and three-year-old preschoolers at Winfield-Mt. Union Elementary do.
According to the Farmer’s Almanac, the tradition of May Day Baskets was popular through the 19th and 20th centuries, especially with children like the WMU students that visited Sunrise Terrace Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Although, according to the Almanac, the custom back then was to knock on a door, yell, “May basket!” and run.
While WMU Elementary Teacher Mary Miller’s class did keep with tradition and make their May Day baskets by hand and fill them with flowers, they opted for a different delivery method and instead visited with residents at drop off.
The students decorated brown paper bags with bright designs, attached pipe cleaner handles, and filled them with handmade tissue paper flowers to create cheerful little baskets honoring May Day and cultivating connection between the youngest and oldest residents of Winfield.
This was not the first time Miller thought of Sunrise Terrace on May Day. While she taught fifth grade instead of fourth last year, she still chose to deliver joy in the cheerful tradition of May Day baskets.
Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com
