The May Blossom and Courtship Customs

May blossom appears in accounts of seasonal courtship and May Queen customs. Flowers, greenery and outdoor celebration brought young people together, but the precise practices varied by place and period. Later summaries sometimes describe divinatory associations with first blossom and dreams of a future spouse.

Such accounts are best treated as particular recorded customs rather than evidence of a universal ancient love rite. Classification: seasonal custom and courtship belief. Region: Britain, locality unspecified. Source trail: Royal Horticultural Society discussions of hawthorn folklore and May traditions. Related journal article.