With many festivities taking place across the countrythis bank holiday weekend to mark May Day, the monthof May is getting off to a celebratory start. As stated in the Evening Standard, “May marks the annual excuse for Brits to celebrate in the sunshine with bank holidays to spare.”
But why is this day so important?
In the UK, May Day is celebrated on the first Monday of May, only formally becoming a bank holiday in1978, but its wider background going back over thousands of years! The earliest known festivities dating back to Roman day Floralia, in celebration of Flora, the Roman Goddess of flowers. The Floralia was composed of theatrical events, sacrificial offerings, and competitive events in her name.
May Day this year, is being held on May 1st, a day infamous in some countries, and celebrated globally as a tribute to labouring classes as a way of appreciating their invaluable contributions and creating awareness for their rights. Primarily in the US, dating back to 1886, it has been acknowledged as holding relations with the tragic Haymarket affair in Chicago, where some people were killed at a protest over the eight hour working days. In India the day has also been recognised for acknowledging achievements of working classes and was first celebrated as a ‘Labour Day’ on May 1, 1923. Over time, different cultures created their own traditions in alignment with their individual beliefs.
For example, in the UK, the origins of May Dayprimarily represent joyful beginnings and the fertility of spring. May Day festivities are roughly held between the spring equinox and summer solstice, welcoming the beginning of summer. In rural Britain, May Day hung as one of the few holidays not associated with religion and is believed to have begun on the Celtic astronomical holiday, marking changes in season. Originating from its Celtic name “Belthane”, Beltane was a renowned celebration composed of laughter,dancing and singing. As stated in ‘forest holidays’ “the seeds of the new crops had been planted, farm labourers were given a day off and they certainly made the most of it”.
Celebrations usually consist of decorative spring-like items, such as yellow May flowers and ribbons being hung on doors as well as animals, and special bonfires lit to further spark the changing season. In Britain, in the Middle Ages, the infamous Maypole was set up, motivating different towns and cities to search for the tallest and grandest pole. As they came in many different sizes, they would then compete with other towns and villages to see who had the tallest one! Additionally, many would dance around the pole to symbolise the Male fertility, with wreaths and flowers dotted around to celebrate female fertility. As highlighted in the Evening news, another old 19th and 20th century tradition was the “anonymous May Basket drop off,” where some would “deposit a basket of spring flowers and treats on their neighbours’ doorsteps, knock and run away,” acknowledging the significance of offerings and kindness to welcome the changing season.
May day is a celebration of restoration, joy, and colour, so sit back and enjoy the holiday surrounded by the people you love!
