In France, the fifth month of the year is beautifully known as "le joli mois de mai" (the beautiful month of May). Spring is in full bloom and a children's song epitomises the whole atmosphere: Voici le mois de mai (Here comes the month of May).
La Tournette in Spring © French Moments
Voici le mois de mai: A Nursery Rhyme
In May, nature takes a place of honour. Spring is blooming in the trees, gardens and fields. On the first day of May (le premier mai), it is tradition to pick up and offer bunches of lily-of-the-valley (le muguet) to family, friends and work colleagues.
In the popular tradition, May is a month devoted to the Virgin Mary when communions and baptisms used to take place.
In the southwest of France (Périgord, Quercy and Limousin), people still plant and decorate a maypole (Arbre de mai) in the centre of the village in honour to their elected officials.
It seems that the song "Voici le mois de mai" originates from Brittany and Vendée in the West of France.
The French lyrics
Couplet 1
Voici le mois de mai (bis)
Où les fleurs volent au vent (bis)
Où les fleurs volent au vent si jolie mignonne
Où les fleurs volent au vent si mignonnement
Couplet 2
Le gentil fils du roi (bis)
S'en va les ramassant (bis)
S'en va les ramassant si jolie mignonne
S'en va les ramassant si mignonnement
Couplet 3
Il en ramasse tant (bis)
Qu'il en remplit ses gants (bis)
Qu'il en remplit ses gants si jolie mignonne
Qu'il en remplit ses gants si mignonnement
Couplet 4
À sa mie les porta (bis)
Les donna en présent (bis)
A sa mie les porta si jolie mignonne
A sa mie les porta si mignonnement
Couplet 5
Prenez, prenez ma mie (bis)
Je vous donne ces gants (bis)
Je vous donne ces gants, si jolie mignonne
Je vous donne ces gants, si mignonnement
Couplet 6
Portez-les donc ma mie (bis)
Trois ou quatre fois l'an (bis)
Trois ou quatre fois l'an si jolie mignonne
Trois ou quatre fois l'an si mignonnement
Couplet 7
A Pâques, à la Toussaint (bis)
À Noël, à Saint-Jean (bis)
A Noël, à Saint-Jean, si jolie mignonne
A Noël, à Saint-Jean si mignonnement
Daffodils (jonquilles) © French Moments
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The English translation
Verse 1
Here comes the month of May (x2)
When flowers fly with the wind (x2)
When flowers fly with the wind, my so pretty sweetheart
When flowers fly with the wind so pretty nicely.
Verse 2
The kind son of the king (x2)
Goes to pick them up (x2)
Goes to pick them up, my so pretty sweetheart,
Goes to pick them up so pretty nicely.
Verse 3
He picked so many of them (x2)
That he filled out his gloves (x2)
That he filled out his gloves, my so pretty sweetheart
That he filled out his gloves so pretty nicely.
Verse 4
To his love he brings them (x2)
He brings them as a present (x2)
To his love he brings them, my so pretty sweetheart
To his love he brings them so pretty nicely.
Verse 5
Take, take my love (x2)
I give you these gloves (x2)
I give you these gloves, my so pretty sweetheart
I give you these gloves so pretty nicely
Verse 6
Thus wear them my love (x2)
Three or four times a year (x2)
Three or four times a year, my so pretty sweetheart
Three or four times a year so pretty nicely
Verse 7
At Easter, on All Saint's Day (x2)
At Christmas, on St. John's Day (x2)
At Christmas, on St. John's Day, my so pretty sweetheart
At Christmas, on St. John's Day so pretty nicely.
Bouquet of spring flowers © French Moments
Spring in France: Find out more!
Find out more about Spring in France!
Read more about Spring in France on our French blog:
Dear Pierre,
Thank you so much for such a nice description of May. I also adore les muguets you have so imaginative described their origin. We also have such flowers, but a bit late.
Wishing you all the best
Grazina
You’re most welcome Grazina! 🙂