We are still in May and in some french villages, there is a traditional event which happens at the beginning of this month and at the end of this one. On May 1st, at night, young men bring some branches of tree to young ladies aged of 18. They hangs up over the top of the main door at their house or on the wall. They choose the type of the tree according to the degree of the relationship with the girl.
This night, inhabitants haven't to let their stuff outside: bins, bunches of flowers... Because young men would take away them and put them on the village square. It sure that those men enjoys.
At the end of June, they are invited to have a drink to young women's house. That is happened when my parents were young. It was in the sixties.This tradition started in the 19th century. Nowadays, some villages try to keep this event ( Village of Alsace, for example).
If the tradition is still actually, it is not utterly applied but the gist remains. They simplifies things. Some villages have their own style. For example, in my village, when I was teenager, they just hang a branch of tree and they choose only one type of tree and don't worry about the signification of the tree. Now, they only hang a branch of a tree on the balcony of the town hall. At the end of may, nobody offer them a drink. In other village, young ladies and gentlemen have a drink together.
Nowadays, the tradition is less and less popular. Young people have other points of interest: going to the disco, to the cinema, to the restaurant, traveling... It is easier to move from the village to cities which provides more and more attractions, so that cities make our youth generation forget this tradition.
Trees symbol
Hornbean: loveliness
Alder: l'aulne
Fir: frivolity or vainglory
Beech: the deepest love
Elderberries: inconstancy
Cherry tree: frivolity
*http://www.lesbridgets.com/index.php/Histoire/Les-mais-une-tradition-pour-les-celibataires-dans-la-nuit-du-30-avril-au-1er-mai.html
