May – A Time for Love: Why Is May the Month of Lovers?
"It was late evening, on the first of May— the evening May, a time for love."
These words open the most famous poem in Czech literature, one that forever linked the month of May with love. Karel Hynek Mácha, a Romantic firebrand with the soul of a dreamer, captured in his work Máj (1836) not just tragedy, but above all the intoxicating beauty of spring nature that awakens the senses.
But why is May, specifically, the month of love? And why do we have to kiss under a cherry tree? Let's take a look at the traditions that surround this month.
Why May Specifically? (The Power of Nature)
While February's Valentine's Day is an "imported" holiday, May 1st is deeply rooted in our culture and our biorhythm. May is a season of explosive energy. The days grow longer, the sun finally has some real strength, and everything around us is in bloom. Nature works like a natural aphrodisiac – the scent of lilacs, birdsong, and vibrant colors subconsciously push us to spend time outdoors, and in pairs.
Tradition 1: A Kiss Under a Blossoming Cherry Tree
This is the most important rule of May Day. Tradition has it that:
-
A woman kissed beneath a blossoming tree (ideally a cherry tree, though an apple or birch will also do) will stay beautiful, attractive, and won't "wither" for the whole year.
-
If she doesn't get that kiss, tradition warns of "withering" (something no woman would want!).
A tip for gentlemen (when there's no cherry tree at hand): "Live in the city, with the cherry orchard too far away? Floral etiquette says that a bouquet given out of love carries the very same power. A bouquet of pink flowers or a bunch of blossoming branches symbolically stands in for the whole tree."
Choose Your "Cherry Tree" for the Vase:
(Romantic bouquets in the colors of love)
Tradition 2: Raising the May Tree (Májka)
Today we mostly see May trees (májky) standing on village greens as a communal symbol. Originally, though, it was a deeply personal declaration of love. At night, a young man would secretly set up a decorated little tree (a birch or a small spruce) in front of the window of the girl he was seriously interested in. The taller and more beautiful the May tree, the greater his love was said to be (and his standing among the neighbors too). It was essentially a public "reservation" of the bride-to-be.
May Through a Poet's Eyes
We can't leave out Karel Hynek Mácha. His statue on Prague's Petřín Hill remains, to this day, a pilgrimage site for lovers, who bring flowers to it every May 1st. Mácha turned May into a symbol of passion. His verses remind us that love – just like nature – can be wild, beautiful, and fleeting, and that's exactly why we should cherish it "here and now."
"the turtledove's voice called out to love, where the pine grove breathed its fragrance."
Which Flower to Give on May 1st?
If you want to honor the day of lovers with flowers, you don't have to stick to red roses (those belong to Valentine's Day). May calls for softness and romance.
-
Pink and white tones: Symbolize tenderness and "a kiss under the cherry tree."
-
Spring mixed bouquets: Tulips, ranunculus, or eustoma feel fresh and unpretentious.
Whether you celebrate May 1st with a trip to Petřín Hill, raising a May tree, or just a quiet walk in the park, don't forget that May is the month of open hearts.
Wishing you a beautiful, love-filled May 1st, Team KvětinyExpres.cz
