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Joyeuse Fête du Premier Mai! Posted by on May 1, 2012 in Culture, Vocabulary

Joyeuse fête du premier mai à vous tous !

Of course, you all know that today is la fête du travail (the International Workers’ Day), a celebration which takes place nearly everywhere in the world…

But did you know that the First of May is also the special date of another celebration in France?

Réfléchissez un petit peu (think for a little bit)…

No? You never, ever, heard of it?

Well, mes amisthat French celebration is actually called la fête du Muguet (the Lily of the Valley Celebration), which is at the very least 450 years old!

Le muguet du premier mai (May First’s Lily of the Valley)

Anny et Jean-Marc Versini

Il sort le bout de son nez

It sticks its nose out

Quand arrive le mois de mai

When comes the month of May

Refrain

Chorus

Le muguet, le muguet

The Lily of the Valley, The Lily of the Valley

Le muguet du premier mai

May First’s Lily of the Valley

On le cueille dans la forêt

It is picked in the forest

Pour en faire un gros bouquet

To make a big bouquet out of it

Le muguet, le muguet

The Lily of the Valley, The Lily of the Valley

Le muguet du premier mai

May First’s Lily of the Valley

Il est toujours bien venu

It is always welcome

Et fleurit au coin des rues

And blooms in the corner of the streets

Le muguet, le muguet

The Lily of the Valley, The Lily of the Valley

Le muguet du premier mai

May First’s Lily of the Valley

C’est un vrai porte-bonheur

It is a true lucky charm

C’est la plus jolie des fleurs

It’s the prettiest of all flowers

Le muguet, le muguet

The Lily of the Valley, The Lily of the Valley

Le muguet du premier mai

May First’s Lily of the Valley

Je l’ai mis dans le salon

I put it in the living room

Il parfume la maison

It perfumes the house

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Comments:

  1. Clair Maloude:

    J’adore Le Muguet du Premier Mai !
    A glorious celebration in France! No, I never, ever heard of it.
    The Lily of the Valley is of great sentimental value to me. The young man whom I later married – and alas! divorced – gave me a sprig on a tape of piano music that he had made for me. Our wedding invitations were embossed with a bouquet of lilies of the valley. We moved to a house set by a forest to welcome – our baby was due May 1st – and raise our infant son and there by the side of the house grew the Lily of the Valley.
    Merci beaucoup, Hichem. Terrific post ! Tres magnifique !!

  2. Bill Hipwell menage:

    Bravo pour votre site, je le trouve convivial et instructif.