The Lily of the Valley ( Convallaria majalis ), also known as May Bells, Our Lady's Tears, and Mary's Tears, blooms in spring from early May. In France, 1 May is the Labour Day holiday. It is a tradition to give others a sprig of Lily of the Valley ( Muguet in French) as a symbol of good luck. The tradition began in mediaeval times, which became official on 1 May 1561 when King Charles IX received a sprig and subsequently gave a sprig to every lady in his court. MARTINA NICOLLS MartinaNicollsWebsite I Rainy Day Healing I Martinasblogs I Publications I Facebook I Paris Website I Paris blogs I Animal Website I Flower Website I Global Gentlemanliness SUBSCRIBE TO MARTINA NICOLLS FOR NEWS AND UPDATES Martina Nicolls is an Australian author and international human rights-based consultant in education, healing and wellbeing, peace and stabilization, and foreign aid audits and evaluations. She lives in Paris.