Dogwood Blossom Folklore / Dogwood Blossom Symbolism
May 1: May Day
May Day decoration, traced to pagan ceremonies celebrating the beginning of
summer. Couples would go "a-Maying" after midnight, taking branches
from trees and decorating them with garlands of flowers. Upon returning home
soon after sunrise, the garlands would be placed over doors and windows. According
to American frontier folklore, a young girl who wears a white dogwood blossom
on this morning will learn the Christian name of her future husband when she
meets the first man wearing a white hat that day.