The document summarizes information about the lily-of-the-valley flower. It describes the flower's various names in different languages and cultures. According to legend and mythology, it is associated with the Virgin Mary, having sprung from her tears during the crucifixion. In Germanic mythology, it is associated with the goddess of spring. The flower signifies humility, purity, and the return of happiness. The song lyrics are about the fleeting nature of the lily-of-the-valley season in May, but the enduring love between two people.

39. Images:
Collages with pictures
from the Net
Music:
“Le temps du muguet”
Mireille Mathieu
Paul Mauriat
Adriana

40. Lily-of-the-valley
Other names include May lily, May bells, lily constancy, ladder-to-heaven, male
lily, and muguet (French). Its scientific name, majalis or maialis, means "of or
belonging to May", and old astrological books place the plant under the dominion
of Mercury, since Maia, the daughter of Atlas, was the mother of Mercury or
Hermes.
In the "language of flowers", the lily of the valley signifies the return of happiness.
Legend tells of the affection of a lily of the valley for a nightingale that did not come
back to the woods until the flower bloomed in May.

41. Christian Legend
The flower is also known as Our Lady's tears or Mary's tears from Christian legends that it
sprang from the weeping of the Virgin Mary during the crucifixion of Jesus. Other etiologies
its coming into being from Eve's tears after she was driven with Adam from the Garden of
Eden or from the blood shed by Saint Leonard of Noblac during his battles with a dragon.
The name "lily of the valley" is also used in some English translations of the Bible in Song of
Songs 2:1, although whether or not the Hebrew word "shoshana" (usually denoting a rose)
originally used there refers to this species is uncertain.
It is a symbol of humility in religious painting. Lily of the valley is considered the sign of
Christ's second coming. The power of men to envision a better world was also attributed to
the lily of the valley.
Germanic Mythology
In Germanic mythology lilies are associated with the virgin goddess of spring Ostara. The lily
symbolizes life to Pagans and the blooming of lily of the valley flower heralds the feast of
Ostara. The sweet fragrance and whiteness of the flowers symbolize the humility and purity
of its patron goddess.
Source “Wikipedia”

42. Il est revenu, le temps du muguet
Comme un vieil ami retrouvé
Il est revenu flâner le long des quais
Jusqu'au banc où je t'attendais
Et j'ai vu refleurir
L'éclat de son sourire
Aujourd'hui plus beau que jamais
Le temps du muguet ne dure jamais
Plus longtemps que le mois de mai
Quand tous ses bouquets déjà seront fanés
Pour nous deux rien n'aura changé
Aussi belle qu'avant
Notre chanson d'amour
Chantera comme au premier jour
Il s'en est allé, le temps du muguet
Comme un vieil ami fatigué
Pour toute une année, pour se faire oublier
En partant il nous a laissé
Un peu de son printemps
Un peu de ses vingt ans
Pour s'aimer, pour s'aimer longtemps.