Image via Wikipedia
May Day in Greece,inside and outside the gardens,as well as in the streets…
First of May in Greece has a double face and it is a national holiday as in most countries all over the world,honouring the worker and supporting their rights.Powerful trade unions demonstrate in the streets and worker’s groups,called by the unions,are active on this day,striking and protesting.It’s sad though when mass protest marches clash with the police.
In my own May Day post though,I would also like to refer to the other face of the May Day, connected with the spring blossoms and the festivals of flowers.Yes,it is the “Festival of the Flowers” celebrated, which has its roots in ancient pagan holidays in our Mythology pages,celebrations for Demeter and her daughter Persephone.Demeter controlled the Plants and the Fertility of the Earth and she was Goddess of Agriculture.Her symbol is an ear of wheat.
Persephone,daughter of Demeter,appears as a beautiful young maiden,on the edge of womanhood.Her symbol is the pomegranate.
Nature is so beautiful on May Day,inside and outside the gardens.People spend the day in the countryside honouring the blossoms and making May wreaths.
Wild Flower Arrangement from our neighbouring forest in Mt.Penteli
Humble Chamomile, smiling at Wild Flowers
Apart from making May wreaths,which we hang on doorways and balconies,we also gather camomile and we leave it in the sun for some days until it gets really dry.It is such a pleasant tea and very good for you,especially when sweetened with honey.
Mt.Penteli-Pine trees and Rocks just before the Sunset
Well,inside or outside the garden, I have a feeling that the flowers look brighter on May Day and they share with us their feelings and their joyful celebrations, through their blossoms and their Spring whispers…
Happy Butter-flowers and their May Day Expression
Purple and Yellow May Day Smiles
Aren’t they beautiful? Don’t they worth our admiration?
Before saying good-bye and publishing the May Day post, a wild cyclamen sandwiched among Mt. Penteli’s Marble Rocks…,where it admires the blossoms until its own time comes to show off its beauty, would very much like to send you all : Its Best Wishes and much LOVE from Greece…
Wild Cyclamen sandwiched among Mt. Penteli's Marble Rocks.....
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My Space in the Immense Universe 
with no doubt your perspective is excellent!!!this post is so positive and optimistic that made us get away from our daily stress…your pictures bring the smell of Spring! D
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By: Anonymous on 02/05/2011
at 23:00
Thank you lady “D”.
Glad to know that the “May Day in Greece” post travelled you to the wonderful world of flowers.Being closer to Nature and trying to perceive and decode its meaningful messages,we easily approach the real meaning of life and its beauty,away from the “Theatre of the Absurd” where they try to manipulate us…
Just smile and step ahead ; it’s up to you to make it heaven or hell….
Much love as always
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By: DG MARYOGA on 02/05/2011
at 23:32
You should try jasmin-tea, that too is divine 🙂
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By: apollodorosh on 02/05/2011
at 09:47
Thanks for your suggestion my friend.I have had it,already and I just love it, too..You know.I have a passion with herbs.They are sort of humble Gods or Goddesses to my eyes and I adore them.
What makes the difference with camomile,is the fact that I gather it myself.
I enjoyed your Syncretism analysis.Deep thinking totally influences our mind and attitude towards life and our existence. 🙂
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By: DG MARYOGA on 02/05/2011
at 13:56
I’m currently experimenting a bit with different kinds of tea, although unlike you I don’t grow the herbs myself but rather buy the prepared teas in a specialised shop. I usually don’t you tea bags (the contents of which is actually the waste of real tea you use to make a decent cup of tea with). One exception is green mint tea though. The grean tea itself I buy from a Moroccan store nearby to where I live, and I also buy fresh mint there to prepare it. Moroccan green mint tea is also very good 🙂
Thanks for the like and comment on my article 🙂
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By: apollodorosh on 02/05/2011
at 15:07
I grow some herbs,in the garden,especially mint which is easy to grow,but not camomile.Camomile grows wild,in abundance, all over the Greek countryside and in the mountains and I gather it.
I also love preparing them the ritualistic way you imply, with the tea cosy.You get all the goodness out of them,this way.Little details and tips really matter….don’t they? 🙂
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By: DG MARYOGA on 02/05/2011
at 15:34
Indeed. A few weeks ago I learned that it is better to warm the tea pot before you put in the tea and the boiling water. And also that the water must be boiling, meaning 100°C and not 99°C… And it really makes a difference. This was part of 11 Golden Rules for Making Tea by George Orwell: http://www.booksatoz.com/witsend/tea/orwell.htm 🙂
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By: apollodorosh on 02/05/2011
at 15:50
Oh ! “The 11 Tea-Commandments” ,by the prophet of the “1984”. :-).
To be honest,I copied the method many,many years ago from my English friends,who consider(ed ) the making of tea -I am afraid not so much nowadays- was part of their tradition and they faithfully followed all the steps of the ritualistic process…
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By: DG MARYOGA on 02/05/2011
at 17:12
Almost like a Japanese Tea Ceremony, only a British one 😀
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By: apollodorosh on 02/05/2011
at 19:47
Absolutely ! Especially the high tea or afternoon tea…..It goes with so many things together.The big variety of scones,though, is out of this world.A real temptation you can’t resist…
Thank you for your latest explanatory answer-comment.A theory that is applied even in linguistics.Your transfer to the male-female relationship sphere and the reproduction stands wisely and the more involved the more weakened and outshined the result.Or, in the field of architecture where the new is immenesly intensified,leaving you unable to recognise the basic elements involved.
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By: DG MARYOGA on 02/05/2011
at 20:17
I love that you dry fresh chamomile for tea. And I have never seen it growing before the photo in your post. I do grow a lot of herbs but not Chamomile. Fresh mint pounded with a bit of sugar in the bottom of a glass and then filled with cold tea is wonderful.
Cyclamen are my favorites. The leaves are so pretty as well as the flowers. And they grow wild between marble on Mt Penteli. How wonderful.
I remember from my childhood celebrating the first day of May by dancing around the maypole.
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By: Gretchen Del Rio on 01/05/2011
at 20:26
I love gathering camomile and then drying it in the sun.When I do it myself it tastes better than the bags in the boxes we buy in the drug stores or the super markets.
I enjoy seeing the camomile flowers “half-asleep” either early in the morning or when the sun sets.
If they don’t get enough sun beams they are never wide-open.Isn’t it sweet?
They have soul,they live and they speak their own language,the language of silence which is divine….
The wild cyclamens are everywhere around,even on the rocks and they are so happy.In September,almost with the first rain drops,they are very eager to start blossoming in clusters,stealing the scene of the surrounding natural beauty…..
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By: DG MARYOGA on 02/05/2011
at 00:35
Nice to see Greece from another perspective,Usually the most journals does not provide such an info,for both historical -mythological-.
i also like your pictures very much, Mt.Penteli is one of our last places,left untouched,at least partially.
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By: aviectus on 01/05/2011
at 16:16
Thank you,my WordPress friend,for coming by.
Glad to know you liked the “May Day in Greece” post,through the pages of the Greek Mythology and our contemporary culture.
Flora in the Greek mountains is a real treasure and we should do our best to protect it and keep it alive.I suppose it’s a “Give-Take” relationship….
All the Best
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By: DG MARYOGA on 01/05/2011
at 17:58