Mayday Mayday….It’s May Day!

Thursday will be May 1st or May Day as it’s more popularly known.

To many of us, it’s a sign of the start of summer as our gardens begin to bloom. There is also the lovely bonus of a bank holiday on the first Monday of the month and so a long weekend to enjoy the great outdoors (or maybe some family time to choose your next cruise………call me for that one!!)

There are many traditions associated with May Day, some dating back to the 15th century.

If you are a Morris Dancer you will be strapping the bells to your shins and waving your hankies.

Others will be dancing around the Maypole. The symbolism of this has many theories including the pole representing the World’s axis with the dancers the rotating Earth.

Several lucky young ladies will be crowned the May Queen and lead the May Day parades.

In pre-Christian times, Flora the Roman goddess of flowers was celebrated in festivals and the tradition of making flower garlands has continued.

The Jack on the Green festivities came about as these garlands got so big they covered a person who became the Jack. Many places now hold these festivals including a well known one in Hastings, East Sussex.

I’m afraid I will not be one of the above energetic folk but I do enjoy seeing the rather quaint traditions we have in our country.

Incidently,  May Day has no connection with Mayday the distress signal. This is believed to come from the French “m’aider” which translates as “help me”.

We have a new and rather less quaint tradition in our house introduced by my children…..

Star Wars Day  ………May the 4th be with you!!