THE May 1st rhymes with the Lily of the valley ! These little sprigs with bell flowers are sold on every street corner on small improvised stands for a day, which allow some people to make some pocket money or a small additional income not negligible.
There are those for whom it is a tradition : Corinne has been selling lily of the valley every May 1st since over twenty years : “It’s family, I sell it with my children and my grandchildren!”she says proudly. “They perpetuate the tradition and it also teaches them that in life, not everything is free and that you have to roll up your sleeves to have money.” Like any lily of the valley seller, Corinne has her secret corner and her little tips: “We’re going to pick it near Saint-Nicolas-lès-Cîteaux”she confides. “We harvested it Monday and Tuesday and kept it cool: at night, we took it out and during the day, we kept it away from the light so that it didn’t get damaged!”
And this is not the passage of the traditional May 1st demonstration who will stop it: “When the procession passes, there are a little less sales because people are watching, but once the event has left, sales resume without problem!”
Phéline Leloir-Duault
For Marcel, it is above all an opportunity to make a little additional income, “to make ends meet”. He has been selling lily of the valley for 40 years with his father, and now his sister. “It’s the tradition, we perpetuate it! You have to be motivated, it’s work but it brings in a little money”he explains.
A little pocket money for the holidays
Arthur chose to set up his stand of wild lily of the valley, harvested near Chalon-sur-Saône, in the middle of the demonstration. “It’s a cause that appeals to me, for social movements, so I come for that and also to sell lily of the valley for the benefit of my university association which fights for diversity”, he says. On what he is going to harvest, he divides it in two with his comrade: “50% for the association and 50% for us, to go on vacation to England to improve our English! Last year, we raised 350 euros and there, we hope to do a little more.”
Phéline Leloir-Duault
For others, it is an opportunity for challenge between friends : “Everyone has their own basin and whoever sells keeps the money from their sale”, indicates Xavier. Accompanied by his friend Valentin, and joined by his cousin, Hugo, they offer their sprig of lily of the valley to passers-by at Place Darcy. “I’ve been doing this for three years”says Hugo, “It allows you to make a little money and it’s only one day, so it’s not too restrictive.”
And they already have their techniques for finding and preserving lily of the valley: “We’ll look for it near Auxonne or Citeaux but you have to look carefully! Because what’s more, it opened a little early because of the heat”explains Hugo. “It must be kept in a cold room without light, so that it does not wilt”, adds Xavier. And even the slightly eccentric techniques: “Some say you have to put aspirin in the water to boost thrush, but I’m not convinced”, smiled Hugo. And the money from sales? It will be used either to buy clothes or for summer vacation, “In Salou, Spain”hopes Hugo.
