May is by far my favorite month, and you may be thinking “Oh but Lindsey, that’s just because your birthday is in May.” But in all seriousness, I’ve always eagerly looked forward to May, even as a child. May is a month full of celebrations for all you non-birthday people out there too! There’s Mother’s Day, graduation days, the end of a school year, and of course those May flowers we were promised from all of spring’s dreary showers. Kick off a month of holiday fun these pretty May Day crafts for kids and adults! From creating tissue paper flowers to making May Day flower garland, these kid-friendly craft ideas will not only spark their creativity but also teach them about the traditions and history behind May Day.
This article was first published May 1, 2014. I have made a few updates and republished it for readers to enjoy.
How And Why We Celebrate May Day
When is May Day in the United States? May Day celebrations fall on May 1st every year.
May Day as a Spring Festival is all about welcoming the season with flowers, dancing, and outdoor festivities! Traditionally celebrated on May 1st, it has roots in ancient festivals like Beltane (Celtic) and Walpurgis Night (Germanic). Some fun ways to celebrate May Day include:
- Maypole Dancing – People weave ribbons around a tall pole in a joyful dance. Many schools will host a maypole dance.
- Flower Crowns – Symbolizing fertility and renewal, DIY Flower Crowns are worn or given as gifts.
- May Baskets – Small baskets filled with flowers and treats, often left on doorsteps. These can include real flowers, cut or potted, or craft flowers.
May Day is a celebration of the beauty of nature and international workers day. It’s a great time to teach children the value of showing appreciation to those that work hard for them; or simply a fun way to celebrate friendship and the happiness the coming summer brings.
The holiday stems from folks back in the day celebrating the bountiful spring harvest. Later on in the early 19th century, the day took on a new meaning when the working class started a labour revolution, falling on the 1st of May, to protest for better working conditions. Traditionally on Mayday, you put together small May Day baskets or May Day bouquets with flowers and candy to give to friends, family, or people that you appreciate that work hard.
Get ready to unleash your inner artist with this ultimate guide to DIY May Day crafts. From making adorable May Day baskets to crafting colorful flower garlands, this comprehensive article provides step-by-step instructions and inspiration to help you create memorable decorations for the holiday.
5 Best May Day Crafts To Do With Kids
Engage your little ones in fun and educational May Day crafts that will keep them entertained for hours on the first day of May. Looking for quick and easy May Day craft ideas? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. To get you started with some May Day fun, I have compiled a list of a few adorable May Day crafts. You can do these with your children as gifts for others or even for your hard-working-nature-loving self 🙂
Tissue Flower Cards
I am a big supporter of hand written sentiments. These adorable flower cards from artfulkids.com are perfectly sweet and simple to make. They would be a perfect add-on to a May Day gift with a personalized note inside. These May Day crafts are simple enough for kids and cute enough for adults.
Tissue Paper Flowers
Bouquets are a lovely gesture on May Day but fresh flowers tend to be fairly pricey, and not the most sturdy of gifts. Theses tissue paper flowers are a fun and beautiful alternative to stuff in a May Day basket. All you need is tissue paper, tape, and floral stems or pipe cleaners (available at most craft stores). You can get the full tutorial here-> DIY tissue flowers
Door Hanger Flowers Cone
These door knob hanging May baskets from AlphaMom are a super cute. She includes a printable template for the paper cone shape baskets. It is a great way to leave an unexpected surprise for someone on their front door. I grew up always looking forward to creating little mayday baskets in class and usually receiving them on our doorstep when coming home from school. The door hanging ensures that your gift won’t get stepped on or blown away. It could be a fun activity to make these with your child and hang them on your neighbor’s door with a friendly note.
Lollipop May Day Basket Crafts
Flowers are a sweet gesture, but lollipops are even sweeter! These lollipop baskets from howshedoes.com are simply sophisticated for the older “children” who still enjoy receiving something fun to eat. These May Day basket crafts are fun to give or receive!
Flower Garland
Break free from traditional May Day crafts and explore unconventional ideas that will make your celebration stand out. This Flower Garland will add a creative twist to your May Day festivities. Flower Garland Craft.
Conclusion
Are you ready for the celebration of spring? May Day crafts are a fun and festive way to celebrate the arrival of spring! Whether you’re making little baskets from dollar store finds or arranging fresh spring flowers, these simple projects spread joy and beauty. If real flowers aren’t available, homemade flowers can be just as lovely. Adding colorful ribbon and securing decorations with a rubber band makes crafting easy and festive. Sharing these handmade gifts is a wonderful way to spread good news and brighten someone’s day. No matter which May Day activities you choose, the spirit of the holiday is all about joy, creativity, and community. Happy May Day!
The children in my neighborhood had a tradition of dropping off baskets to the neighborhood, yes even strangers, ringing the doorbell, and running. Probably the nicest ding-dong-ditch you could ever receive. That was back home in Nebraska. Here in the South I get looked at a little cock-eyed when I even mention May Day. If people don’t commonly practice the holiday in your area, it’s definitely a tradition that could be fun to implement. Make sure of course, to show your children how to do so in a loving, and respectful way. This May Day, take advantage of this opportunity for connecting with people and showing them love by sharing May Day Crafts! Which of these memorable decorations will you create for the holiday?
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Rita Spratlen says
I love the May Day tradition of leaving surprise baskets filled with May Day flowers! It’s such a sweet way to spread joy on the First of May. These great May Day basket ideas are perfect for kids, especially for an elementary school project. Even a little cup filled with flowers or treats can make someone’s day. It’s amazing how a little thing like little May Day baskets can bring so much happiness. Thanks for sharing these creative ideas to keep the May Day basket tradition alive! What ever happened to the Maypoles? I miss them.
Aria says
What a lovely collection of May Day crafts! I love how these projects blend tradition with kid-friendly creativity— especially the flower baskets and flower crown. Perfect way to celebrate spring and keep little hands busy. Thanks for the inspiration!
Katie says
Thanks for these cute craft ideas. I was looking for some may day activities to do with the kids and they will love these!
ss siri says
What a cheerful and inspiring list of activities! These May Day craft ideas beautifully capture the spirit of spring and bring smiles all around.
Dili says
What a delightful way to celebrate creativity and tradition! These May Day crafts are perfect for keeping little hands busy while teaching them the joy of spring festivities.
Kidzonia says
Thank you for sharing these ideas! The Maypole craft is such a creative way to teach kids about traditions while having fun. Definitely adding this to our weekend activities.
SHIVAM KAUSHIK says
What a delightful way to celebrate creativity and tradition! These May Day crafts are perfect for keeping little hands busy while teaching them the joy of spring festivities.
Morcom says
May Day crafts are a wonderful way to spark creativity and celebrate the season with children! From flower crowns to paper basket weaving, these fun activities also teach kids about culture and tradition in a hands-on way. While working on craft projects, it’s also a great time to introduce eco-friendly concepts to inspire ideas for energy-conscious crafting tools. It is good to promote sustainability from an early age.
Fashion Tips says
This post brought back such sweet memories! I love how you’ve blended the history of May Day with fun, creative crafts that kids (and adults!) can truly enjoy. The tissue flower cards and door hanger cones are especially charming — simple, thoughtful, and perfect for spreading a little joy. Thank you for keeping these traditions alive and making them accessible to a new generation!