The 1st of May, known as “Protomagia”, is a time of celebration throughout all of Greece. It is a day off for everyone, similar to our American “Labor Day”. Living in Thessaloniki for half my life, I took a trip that brought me in touch with nature and, most importantly, my ancestral roots.
In Ancient times, Demeter, the goddess of the harvest, had her daughter abducted by Hades, the god of the underworld. In her anger for losing her precious daughter, the flowers withered and died, plants stopped growing, and the land became desolate.
While her daughter was with Hades, in the underworld, it was Fall and Winter on Earth. But when Persephone returned, it became Spring and Summer. Demeter was happy, so nature was in full bloom. That is how the seasons changed.
Greek families often enjoy picnics in the countryside, where wildflowers cover the hillsides and nature feels especially alive. In my family, there was always one question at the start of May: did you “catch the May season”?
My grandmother used to say, “Paidi mou, epiases to Mai?” In our family, that meant, “Did you go out into the fields and collect wildflowers?” Once the flowers were gathered, we braided them into wreaths of different colors, shapes, and sizes.
Later, the flower wreath was hung on the door of the house as a way of welcoming Mother Nature. It is one of the Greek traditions in my family that I will never forget, and one I hope to continue here in America.