 May 1 or May Day generally follows a folk lore rhyme, "April showers bring May flowers." Tulips, crocus, daffodils and other spring flowers open into the sun's full richness. Blossoming trees like magnolia, cherry and apple delight the nose with aromatic sweetness. It's "the greening time" when the grass and shrubbery are fresh and new. It may be easy to think May would be a natural wonder for pre-Christians to celebrate. It was before the progression of industrial society and Christianity deposited the old rituals into the enclaves of history.
In the 21st century, countries ranging from Mexico to China and Russia celebrate May 1 as International Workers Day. It's a Labor Day where the achievements of industrial and military employees are honored in a proclaimed national holiday. Nonetheless, human beings have a way of resurrecting ancient customs as a source of pleasure. If the weather is favorable, some Americans may engage in picnics and dancing around a maypole. As a bank holiday in Great Britain, May Day is indulged in with the robustness of a mini-vacation. There's dancing and singing around a maypole, the crowning of a May Queen, Morris dancers entertainment, and jumping off a bridge fully clothed that's been done since the 1700's. Police try to prevent and frown upon such actions today for safety reasons. Amidst all this revelry, one might wonder how it was done in ages past.
Archeologists think the surviving traditions of May Day resulted from two festivals combined into one. In late April to early May, the Romans honored Flora, the Goddess of flowers. May 1 was the Druid observance of Beltane, the quarter year turning point where spring was "the greening time" before the summer solstice occurred in June. At dawn on May 1, the British people would rise and "bring in the May" or "go a may'in" by gathering fresh wild flowers in near by meadows and cutting fresh green shoots from the village woodlands. The greens and flowers were artfully combined to decorate everyone's home.
The maypole, a lodge tree pine was cut, stripped of it's branches and decorated in woven flower chains. Over time, ribbon streamers replaced the flowers and a popular weaving ribbon dance evolved around the pole's trunk. Contests were held as to who had the tallest maypole and who had the most tidy woven ribbons around the pole's trunk. The maypole tree signified male fertility, strength and prosperity. The ribbons signified the female principle in nature. Weaving the ribbons about the pole signified male and female harmony and was sometimes thought of as a mating dance for young couples. Today, in the British Isles, children often do the dancing.
Another custom, not usually found in the US, is the crowning of the May Queen. A young girl is selected, adorned in garlands of flowers and taken to the village green, a grassy plaza where the maypole stands. The girl is then ceremoniously crowned May Queen to preside over the May Day festivities. She is seated on a throne covered in rich colorful flowers. Over time, just as with Mother's Day, some May Day customs journeyed from the British Isles to other parts of the world. In Hawaii, for example, the people celebrate "Lei Day" using colorful flower necklaces or "leis" in their festivities.
To learn more visit: www.theholidayspot.com, www.wikipedia.com, and www.timeanddate.com/holidays/common/labor-day
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