Happy May Day
DWilliam/Pixabay
May Day has long been a day of celebration in the western world.
Historically, 1 May has been a traditional spring festival, celebrating the light of summer after a long winter. From deep in our history the day has marked midway between the spring equinox and the summer solstice.
The Romans celebrated the goddess Flora at this time, and Celtic tribes held Beltane festivals.
In my childhood we crowned a May Queen and danced around a maypole, another tradition from ancient times.
Since the 19th century, May Day has taken on another significance as International Workers’ Day or Labour Day.
In some communities where 1 May is celebrated, it can be either, a festival of the coming of summer, or a celebration of workers and their rights – and in some cases has come to be a bit of both.
If your community is celebrating May Day, we would love to hear about it and see some photographs.
