May is the month when, in many parts of the US and elsewhere, it feels like winter is truly behind us and spring is swinging into something else—that joyous season of carefree outdoors activities and gatherings, we so welcome, this year in particular, after so many months of feeling stuck inside. May is a dress rehearsal for summer, and it’s also when we celebrate our moms! At partager la joie we’re excited for every opportunity this month offers to celebrate togetherness and make memories with our loved ones.
May Celebrations
Cinco de Mayo—This commemoration of a Mexican victory over a larger French army has morphed into a popular celebration of the richness of Mexican-American culture. Stock up on limes and invite a few friends to enjoy a fresh-air fiesta! Gather around and make a pitcher of our Fresh Margaritas, Avocado and Tomato Salsa, Shrimp Ceviche and chips… Especially if you’re celebrating with kids, make or buy a piñata and fill it with wrapped candies. There’s nothing quite like the release, for people of all ages, of taking a good swing at the piñata and enjoying the eruption of sweets that’s more than a little reminiscent of how suddenly spring exploded with blossoms everywhere.
Mother’s Day—Mother’s Day falls on Sunday May 9th this year in the US (check online for your own country’s Mother’s Day if a mom you love lives outside the United States!). We all know and have been loved and influenced by a mother—or several, between our moms, grandmothers, that special aunt… Maybe you’re even a mother yourself. There’s the family you’re given and that family grows with special members you choose to include as you build your own, and most of us have a handful of beloved “mom” figures, including teachers, mentors, older friends, and in-laws, that we can also honor on this special day for the many gifts they’ve given us. Maybe some of the moms you hold in your heart are no longer with us which may make this day bittersweet, if so, today is a good day to celebrate the lasting love they have given to you. Mother’s Day is a time when we honor all moms and reach out to let them know how much we cherish all these special women have given us, and the ways they have shaped our lives.
To celebrate moms who are nearby, we’ve included delicious ideas for a lovely brunch in May’s Epicure section. Bake a batch of our Simply Sweet Scones and host your favorite moms for an afternoon tea. Or make plans for a picnic in a beautiful spot or spa day together. Treat your special mom to a lavish day of pampering or a gift from our wellness collection. If distance is a factor, pack up a cheerful gift with a handwritten note, surprise her with a call, or schedule a Zoom apéro. Thoughtful gifts come in all forms—the most important part is letting her know you’re thinking of her. No matter what you decide on, the point is to show love and appreciation and spark some joy for the strong, generous, and loving women in our lives.
Memorial Day—This holiday falls on the very last day of May this year, the weekend known as the unofficial start of summer! It’s a day of patriotic gratitude, when we honor the sacrifices made for us by generations of servicemen and women. Plan a picnic at home, the beach or wherever your destinations may bring you. Drape your table in red, white, and blue, and add flags to your outdoor space. If you’re planning an evening meal, the sky will provide the stars for your stars and stripes… just add sparklers and s’mores by the fire! Wow your guests with our make-your-own pickle recipe—so simple, fresh, and delicious. Homemade lemonade is always a refreshing delight to accompany the first barbecue of the season. Serve it amidst a cloud of lilacs and hydrangeas or with mint sprigs from your herb garden.
Design Notes
Now that spring is in full swing, we’re awash in blooms of all kinds… At partager la joie, we’ve got a few favorites to express how bursting with joy we are at the lengthening of the days and the coming of summer. May means lilacs! These delicate blooms in shades of purple and white are an iconic hallmark of May (at least in New England), and freshly cropped lilacs in a dramatic vessel bring such spring joy! May is also the perfect time to take advantage of the many blooms in your outdoor space—late spring tulips popping up, blossom-covered branches—and the time to create and plant our beautiful outdoor planters and gardens.
Set the Table—It’s time to enjoy dining outdoors! Bring on the picnics, barbecues, and plein-air apéros with family and friends. We love outdoor gatherings because they are elegant yet simple, playful but not fussy, and—you guessed it—so joyful! Lighten up your tableware—think linens that are easy to care for, seasonal table decor, woven accents, some candles, and voilà! You're ready to welcome your guests. Be sure to follow us on Instagram for more of the season-inspired table settings and outdoor design ideas we are excited to share with you. Looking for curated inspiration ideas for hosting your summer events? Get in touch here and let us show you how with a personalized Inspiration Workshop designed just for you!
May Product Highlights
We’ve got plenty of gift ideas for Mother’s Day in our wellness collection—lavender neck wraps and eye pillows, Lilac and Cotton-scented spring candles and an array of freshly scented bath and body luxuries. Take a look at the market baskets and linens we’ve curated for your picnic season! We are ready to kick off a summer full of joy with new items we’re debuting on partager la joie this month—chic style, home and wellness collections, dresses, linens, woven accessories, summer candles, and so much more. Shop here
Epicure
We’re in the mood for light cuisine that packs a punch this month at partager la joie. Our vanilla chia pudding is an energy-stacked way to start your day, and easy scones are simple and yet slightly decadent. We’ve got the Cinco de Mayo basics covered for you with our classic margaritas and our fresh salsa, and we’ve gathered plenty of other fresh ideas to perk up your spring cuisine:
We’ve been through a lot in the past year, and we should take a moment to feel gratitude for making it into the calmer, gentle days of May with our sense of self and our capacity for joy intact! Aside from the delightfully spicy festivity of Cinco de Mayo, the occasions we celebrate in May recenter us in our gratitude. Take a deep breath and as you exhale, focus your energy on appreciating that which gives us life—the Earth, all dressed in May finery, and our mothers!
And as you navigate the ever-shifting “new normal” of a world that’s reopening as quickly as buds on a branch or a field of flowers, let’s savor, above all, the possibility of sharing happy moments together again, perhaps outside of our small, safe circles of the past year. Let’s move outward in a spirit of joyous celebration!
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