Parents' Guide to May Baskets

Who doesn't love finding a little basket or bag of treats left by a friend or loved one on their doorstep?

And, what kid doesn't love the thrill of the ding-dong-ditch??

On May 1st, families across Siouxland and the Midwest get to enjoy both those scenarios as part of one special little holiday. Here's what parents should know about celebrating May Day with their kids:

What is May Day?

May Day is a celebration of spring on May 1st. The holiday has roots in several different ancient celebrations; most historians specifically cite the Roman and Celtic spring celebrations around the same time as the most directly related. From these ancient spring celebrations through medieval Europe to the modern Midwest, early May has long been a time of flowers and joy.

I dug through old newspaper records from our area when researching a May Day article for the spring 2020 issue of Living Here Midwest magazine and discovered that May Day/ May 1st as a spring celebration has been celebrated in the Siouxland area since at least the 1880s!

Sidenote: many cultures and individuals celebrate a workers' rights holiday on May first; that is a separate and unrelated occasion and people can easily celebrate whatever combination of both or neither or either they'd like. 

What are May Baskets?

May Baskets are little "baskets" full of treats and/or flowers, delivered to loved ones and neighbors on May 1st, usually by leaving them sneakily on doorsteps and doorknobs.

There are lots of variations you can consider for the basket, the treats, and the delivery: 

The Basket

Your May Baskets can be in actual baskets if you want them to be...but they really don't have to be! 

• One of the easiest and most classic Siouxland May Basket options is to add pipe cleaner or red licorice handles to paper cups. My kids love  to help decorate the cups with stickers and other fun decorations! These make great little treats and it doesn't take much to fill them. I recommend putting them inside of a clear treat bag if it's a windy day and you're worried about spills. 
• Another option is a decorative paper cone. To make one, roll up a piece of pretty paper and use glue or tape to keep it together. then, punch holes and add yarn or ribbon to make a handle to hang it up with!
• Paper bags are another fun option that even very young kids can have a blast decorating, and they work really well when using individually wrapped treats inside (we'll get to fillers in a minute!) and don't spill easily on windy days.
• You can also use an inexpensive bucket or flowerpot, which is cute with edible treats but also adorable with plants. Feel free to get creative!

The Treats

Historically, May Baskets were usually filled with flowers, and that's still a fun way to go. Because not much is in bloom by May 1st in Siouxland, if you don't have any flowers to cut from your own yard yet, a fun option is to get some seedlings from a garden center like Menards, Bomgaars, Wilmes, Home Depot, or Lowe's and replant them into a cute little pot, bucket, or cup.

But the classic modern Sioux City May Basket is filled with popcorn and candies. I feel like this is especially perfect considering that we have our popcorn company--Jolly Time--and chocolate company--Palmer's--locally and both have delicious factory stores!

Another option is pre-packaged treats. I really recommend this if you don't know the people you're gifting very well (like your kids might have a friend from school whose parents you don't know well), or if you are intending to be truly sneaky, as people may be unlikely to eat loose treats if they aren't sure of its origins. Luckily there are still lots of options for this. You could do unpopped bags of Jolly Time microwave popcorn so they can make their own, or you can buy small bags of popcorn like Pirate's Booty brand, or even a box of Cracker Jacks.

For candy, it's easy to find individually wrapped varieties, whether from Palmer's or another brand, so take your pick. You can also find individually wrapped cookies, although it's a bit trickier. Here in Sioux City, one great place to find them is at Sugar Shack. Their cookies can be bought individually wrapped on lollipop sticks. 

You can also get creative, and keep in mind who you are giving your May Baskets to, like using puffcorn and baby-safe crackers, for kids too little for popcorn.

The Delivery

The classic method of delivery is the ding-dong-ditch: you park around the corner if in a vehicle, approach sneakily, places the goods on the doorstep, and then run for cover.

Traditionally, if you are caught, you get kissed. So especially if you are gifting someone older, don't be surprised if they do attempt to chase you down and kiss you! This has never happened to me. But it's a thing, so I wanted to warn you! 

And yes, if your friends have security cameras, they are totally going to catch you. You can either just let whatever happens happen, or you can warn them ahead of time so they can let their kids be surprised at least. Either way, it's going to be fun!

Don't want to DIY?

If you don't want to DIY, don't despair. You can totally just buy something. Here are a few local options:

• Jolly Time Koated Kernels usually sells kits, so you are technically still DIY-ing it, but with help! For May Day 2024 they have posted that their kits are $11 for everything you need to make 10 May Baskets.
• There are pre-made May baskets available at the Palmer's Old Tyme Candy Shoppe ranging from small cups to big baskets fit for a group or someone really special. 
• Area florists like of course have a variety of floral arrangements, but also some live potted plants, either of which would be really fun if going the floral route.

Whether you do paper cups or fancy baskets, popcorn or flowers, May Day is a sweet little tradition and I for one am glad to see it continue! Happy spring, Siouxland!