Unfortunately the old traditions have fallen by the wayside because of modern consiterations: Parade Permits; envioronmental impact studies, metal detector and search requirements, damage deposits, arrangements for law enforcement and traffic control, recyclable materials requirements, feasibility studies, minority impact studies, neighborhood watch groups, etc.
I remember how much fun it was. Construction paper, paste, grass, wildflowers. Four or five baskets on the neighbors doors. Four or five happy neighbors. I’ll sit on the porch today, play my whistle, remember how it once was and when I smile my kids will once more think the old man is demented.
Somewhat proud to say that our family did just that this morning. My daugter decorated the paper and using a bit of origami I made them into may baskets. five of our nearby neighbors with small children, had a little basket with gummy worms and fruit chewies (Emily picked them out) and a small note wishing them happy May Day hanging on their doors. Emily had a lot of fun and when we got caught by our next door neighbors we all had fun.
Actually, I take a slightly more cynical view – I think it’s just that Hallmark and their ilk haven’t found a way to make money out of it yet. They’ve managed to get people to buy junk they don’t need for Christmas, Easter, Valentines – look at all of the cruddy plastic green tack they are trying to pass off as ‘authentic’ St. Paddy’s stuff (and, OMG, green beer – what marketing genius foisted that upon us?).
As soon as they realize that they can sell candy Maypoles it’ll come back big again, believe me, just like St Paddy’s over the past few years.