Paracord May Day Baskets

Paracord May Day Baskets

How to celebrate May 1st with paracord creations

Growing up, May was my favorite month of the year. Not only was it my birthday month (wish me “Happy Birthday” on the 11^th) but it also signified the start of spring and the waning weeks of the school year. Oh, plus there was May Day. I remember making cones out of construction paper, filling them to the brim with small candies, and hanging them from my neighbors’ doors. After ringing door bells, I ran for my life, because girls still had cooties back then.

The roots of May Day can be traced back to “The Festival of Flora” around 170 BC wherein the Roman goddess of flowers was celebrated. As Europe became Christianized, May Day took on a more secular premise, with traditions of dancing around the maypole (a small wooden pole common at European folk festivals) and crowning the Queen of May. By the time the tradition of May Day came to the United States, celebrations evolved into encompassing the elements of the holiday we know today.

Although May Day traditions vary by neighborhood, city, and region, the basic customs in the United States are similar. First, you fill baskets with candies, flowers, or toys. After the basket has been filled, you are to write the recipient’s name on the outside of the basket and then deliver the basket to said recipient’s house. After you place the basket on the doorstep or door handle, you ring the doorbell or knock on the door. Then, you run away from the house before the recipient has time to see who delivered the basket. If the recipient catches you, a kiss is exchanged. Anonymity is the key to a proper May Day celebration.

The sad realization I came to while writing this blog was that the May Day tradition has decreased substantially in modern times. Some of my fondest memories came from constructing those May Day baskets and delivering them to my crushes in the neighborhood. Naturally, it was heartbreaking to see that less and less children are celebrating the great tradition these days. So, this is my challenge for the parents reading this blog: BRING BACK MAY DAY BASKETS. Teach your kids the history behind the holiday, and have them fill their baskets with paracord! Paracord scraps or small handmade crafts such as critters, bracelets, and lanyards are perfect for a May Day basket.

For more ideas, visit our Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, or Instagram to learn new tutorials and preview our best paracord discounts. If you plan on making a "Paracord May Day Basket," let us know below!

Happy Cording.

Written by: Jackson Yakowicz

Contact at jacksony@imsetc.com

To read Jack's full blog, visit here.

The Simplest Paracord Designs

The Simplest Paracord Designs

Suggested projects for paracord crafting beginners

When I came to Paracord Planet a year and a half ago, I knew virtually nothing about knotting. Aside from making a few bracelets at various summer camps growing up I really hadn’t had much crafting experience in my life. Naturally, I was apprehensive to begin. The first design that I ever successfully made was the “Fishtail Weave.” I started to build some more confidence and by the time I had worked here for three months, I was able to get down the Cobra, Sawtooth, and Extreme design with relative ease. Prior to ever being able to craft paracord projects, however, I had to familiarize myself with the material. Paracord, a kernmantle rope that was originally used by paratroopers in World War II, was never imagined to be as versatile as we have later discovered that it truly is. Although I’ll never have the crafting abilities of JD Lenzen, Dman McQ, and some of the other big names in the paracord industry, I feel comfortable enough with the rope to make some awesome creations in my spare time at work. I owe a lot of thanks to these simple designs below for helping to ease me into paracord crafting. If you're a beginner, too, try out the following designs and build your confidence in your own crafting abilities!

1. The Easiest Paracord Bracelet

Learn how to make it here.

2. The Easiest Key Fob

Learn how to make it here.

3. The Easiest Lighter Wrap

Learn how to make it here.

4. The Easiest Monkey Fist

Learn how to make it here.

5. The Easiest Necklace

Learn how to make it here.

Once you have mastered these designs, you should be able to move on to the next level of paracord crafting. Make sure to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, check out our Google+ and Pinterest pages, and scroll through our Instagram in order to find tutorials for your next project.

Written by: Jackson Yakowicz

Contact at jacksony@imsetc.com

To view Jack's full blog, click here