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The Heart of the Phoenix by Barbara Bettis

5/1/2015

14 Comments

 
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 May Day was yesterday. I remember from younger days, my friends and I made May Baskets, usually from construction paper, and on the first day of May, filled the baskets with flowers. Then we’d hang them on the handles of doors in the neighborhood, ring the doorbell (or knock), and run.

We’d hide nearby to watch the door open and the baskets discovered. The smiles of pleasure the folks had as they picked up the flowers were gratifying to us kids.

In school, we also had Maypole dances—often at recess, or at Spring programs presented for parents. Inevitably one of the dancers would drop a streamer or go under when he or she should have gone over and the resulting colorful pattern would knotted. But that was all right. Our parents loved it anyway.

I don’t know if that’s done anymore; if not, it’s a shame. It was such a fun thing to do for others, plus we had a lot of fun making those baskets. My best friend was very artistic. She’d cut and paste pieces into lovely containers, make designs on the sides.

My talents stopped at rolling a sheet of paper into a cone. If I was lucky, I’d succeed in pasting a narrow strip on for a handle.

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Children have innocent fun with those traditions. They don’t realize the traditions have roots in ancient times. May 1 has been celebrated for thousands of years. In the Middle Ages, it was observed as the first day of Summer and was synonymous with Beltane, a Celtic celebration of summer held April 30-May 1. Ancient Romans celebrated the time as the Floralia, or the festival of Flora, goddess of flowers, although those festivities began April 27. 

Traditions may evolve over the years, but it’s important to remember them. And what better way than with a gift of flowers in a red paper cone placed on the door of someone special.

Did you do anything special to observe May Day when you were young?

Some call him a ruthless mercenary; she calls him the knight of her heart.

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TWRP 


Memories

Lady Evelynn’s childhood hero is home—bitter, hard, tempting as sin. And haunted by secrets. A now-grown Evie offers friendship, but Sir Stephen's cruel rejection crushes her, and she resolves to forget him. Yet when an unexpected war throws them together, she finds love isn’t so easy to dismiss. If only the king hadn’t betrothed her to another.

Can be cruel

Sir Stephen lives a double life while he seeks the treacherous outlaws who murdered his friends. Driven by revenge, he thinks his heart is closed to love. His childhood shadow, Lady Evie, unexpectedly challenges that belief. He rebuffs her, but he can’t forget her, although he knows she’s to wed the king’s favorite.

And deadly

When his drive for vengeance leads to Evie’s kidnapping, Stephen must choose between retribution and the love he’s denied too long. Surely King John will see reason.Convict the murderers; convince the king. Simple. Until a startling revelation threatens everything


Visit Barb at:

www.barbarabettis.blogspot.com

http://www.facebook.com/BarbaraBettisAuthor
14 Comments
Barbara Bettis
5/2/2015 01:02:31 am

Thanks for having me here today, Marlow. I really like your website! Happy May!

Reply
Marlow
5/2/2015 02:43:43 am

Barbara, you're welcome back anytime.
I loved your post. What a wonderful idea to give people flowers on May Day. I wish we still did that today.

Reply
Mary Morgan
5/2/2015 01:32:56 am

Sadly, we didn't celebrate May Day when I was young. However, as an adult, I definitely make it a "fun" day. All organized activity gets tossed out the window. I spend time in my garden, visiting friends, creating wreaths, and enjoying the day. A lovely post! :)

Reply
Barbara Bettis
5/2/2015 08:57:10 am

Wonderful, Mary. I admire anyone who can garden successfully and create wreaths! thanks for stopping by.

Reply
Mary Morgan
5/2/2015 01:33:46 am

Forgot to say, "Happy Merry Month of May!" :)

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Barb Bettis
5/2/2015 08:59:05 am

Ah, yes :>) ! That makes me want to go find the recording. But the story is so sad!!!

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Andrea Downing link
5/2/2015 01:46:33 am

Barb, thanks so much for bringing back that memory of the maypole dance in school. I really loved doing that! My own family had no real traditions for the day and, sadly, when I moved to the UK May Day became associated with communism and the far left, with marches and demonstrations.

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Barbara Bettis
5/2/2015 09:01:39 am

Oh, my goodness, Andrea, that would totally change the association with any holiday---no longer sweet but scary! As for the dances, did any of your group end up facing each other, arguing whether they should go under of over :) I can remember a couple of boys in our class who always argued. Our teacher would be livid!

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Barbara Monajem link
5/2/2015 02:11:08 am

I don't remember celebrating May Day as a child, but I read about it a number of times. I like the custom of collecting dew on May morning so much that it inspired me to write a couple of novellas about a custom of rolling naked in the dew on May Day morning, to bring your true love to your side. ;) Happy May!

Reply
Barbara Bettis
5/2/2015 09:03:29 am

Oh, Yes, Barbara. I didn't mention that tradition of the girls washing their faces in dew. I want to read your novellas about that--they sound delightful! Thanks for sharing that.

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Abigail Owen
5/2/2015 03:27:36 am

My town used to do a festival for May Day with the may pole and a fun run and other things. I completely forgot about that until I read this post. :) I don't think it's done any more. Thanks for the memory!

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Barbara Bettis
5/2/2015 09:05:04 am

To have the entire town celebrate like that, with the May Pole too, is wonderful! Bet that was a lot of fun to attend. Thanks for sharing that!!

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Mary Gillgannon link
5/3/2015 01:09:49 am

I remember making May baskets as a child. It was such a fun tradition. Never got to dance around the Maypole, though. I think it's a very English tradition and the area I grew up in (northern Illinois) was mostly German.Thanks for the reminder of a delightful childhood memory.

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Susabelle link
5/4/2015 03:16:29 am

I have no memories of celebrating May Day in any certain way as a child. In my late thirties, I had a lot of Pagan friends, and May Day (they call it Beltaine) was a huge celebration. I think I've been missing out!

I did spend May Day working in my garden, but it is still not quite spring here in Colorado, despite what the calendar says. Next year I should plan something spectacular. This time of year, we are all pretty much tired of winter and could really use some color in our lives!

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