It may have been Richie's first trip to France when this occurred. May 1st we arrived at CDG mid-morning, disembarked, cleared customs and went out to the street to catch the Air France Bus (pronounced boosss) into Paris to be greeted by a lot of people moving around the crowd of incoming passengers and pressing little nosegays of Lilies of the Valley on each person while smiling in a welcoming manner.
A great way to welcome visitors to France and much more cost effective than a lei when landing in Hawaii.
Michelle explained it all to us. May 1st is the French Fete du Travail or Labor Day when shops close, as do most restaurants and everyone goes to the beach or the country for the day.
The friendly aspect of this charming custom is the meaning of Lilies of the Valley - love and affection - started back in 1560 when a knight, one Louis Girard, pressed a bouquet of them on King Charles IX. So charmed by the gesture the King then decreed that in future he would give every woman in his court a little bunch of them. And thus the give away that became an official thing in 1947.
The French clearly have taken to this idea and spent $31.8 million last year on muguets. You know it's got to be good to get that much cold cash out of the clutching fingers of the … frugal French. .
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