Mykonos: The Most Unique May Day Wreaths That Take 10 Days to Make
Mykonos greets both locals and tourists with the most unique May Day wreaths, a feast for the eyes that attract the attention of both young and old, year after year…
May Day wreaths symbolize the rebirth of nature with spring, a fact that people want to bring into their homes. Mykonos has its own special tradition, with beautiful wreaths that captivate the attention of both locals and tourists. Colorful and full of fragrances. For the past 45 years, a local association has been lovingly crafting dozens of wreaths, which are sold out in just a few hours.
As every year, this year too, the ladies of the Cultural and Folklore Association of Women of Mykonos have lovingly and meticulously created the most intricate and colorful May Day wreaths to welcome the most beautiful month of Spring. The “May wreaths” are placed on tables and sold, attracting people with their colors and scents, who rush to purchase them.
The president, Anna Athymariti, spoke to Mykonos Live TV about the association’s activities and how this year’s floral wreaths, which are a feast for the eyes, were created:
“Besides spreading the culture and folklore of Mykonos, our association, which was founded in 1979, also has a charitable aspect as we make donations to schools and help those in need.”
“Our May wreaths take about ten days to create. They are made of flowers we collect from the countryside of Mykonos, but this year due to the drought, we were forced to order the so-called ‘provassokombus’ (purple amaranth flowers) from Italy. The ladies worked with joy and creativity for several hours.”
The May wreath is a floral creation with which we celebrate the arrival of spring. It is a Greek tradition, but not exclusively so. Especially on the islands of the Mediterranean and throughout Greece, on May 1st, people make a wreath from flowers (usually wildflowers, daisies, and less commonly poppies) typically from the fields. The floral wreath made on May Day is hung outside houses, usually on the door.
