Among Friends

[cheriere]

When I was a little girl, I always wanted to be "in the May Day," as we called it.  My school didn't participate in this celebration, but my cousin's did.  Every year, she got a beautiful new dress and spectacular flower and ribbon woven crown like head dress for dancing around the May Pole.  After the dance, there was a great festival with food, games, and carnival rides.

At the time, I had no idea what May Day signified.  I just knew it looked like fun!  

May Day has long been a celebration of the season of Spring across many cultures.  Early May Day festivities began with the ancient Romans who had a week long festival for the Roman goddess of flowers, Flora.

The flowering of fruit trees and sowing season was extremely important to them in hopes of a good harvest.  Since lambing and calving season had passed, animals were now free to feed in more remote, abundant pastures.

In Germany & Scandinavia, May Eve came to be part of a Christian feast for St. Walpurga.  Among the Celts, it's known as Beltane.  In fact, it still goes by this name in some European places today.

May Eve was celebrated all across Europe with large bonfires.  Traditionally, this was done to drive out evil spirits.  Special permissiveness was often allowed to young couples, to go out into the fields and woods together. 😉 

However, singing and dancing have always been integral to the May Day celebrations.  Before the 1700s, dancing, games, and sporting events were held around a large tree centered near town.  The tree was then stripped of its limbs and leaves and beautifully decorated.

May Day of course featured feasting and drinking.  Mead, an alcoholic beverage made from honey, was particularly significant.  It symbolized the bees returning to the fields and orchards.

In Germany, a special white wine concoction flavored with sweet May flowering sweet woodruff was the drink of choice.  Perhaps even the wild violet ground ivy I wrote about was used to ferment an ale for this celebration.😃

As the new world opened and people began settling in America, many brought their May Day traditions along.  The most iconic being the May Pole.  This tradition came to us in its Victorian era version, elaborately decorated with woven ribbons by dancing children or adults. 

Some celebrations are simple, while others more ceremonious, even electing a May King and Queen.

A more simple custom, and dare I say fun, is the tradition of May Day surprises.  The best being the May Basket. 🧺 To do this, one must get up very early as to anonymously surprise the recipient.  Since both children and adults participate, this can be a token of friendship or an exchange between sweethearts.❤️

The basket might contain things such as flowers, seeds, cakes and cookies.  
The custom was to put the basket on the doorstep or handle, quickly knock, then run!  If the door was answered quickly, they could chase down the giver.  If caught, they could only be set free by giving the giver a kiss.😘 

May baskets are still given today.  However, they're more likely to be delivered by a florist.  

The May Day celebrations have changed in many ways over the years.  One thing that remains the same is our love for the coming season, filled with the promise of so much new life and possibilities.

Edited to add:  Since 1927, Hawaii has celebrated what's known as Lei Day on May 1st, which began their tradition of giving and receiving leis.  The lei is meant to represent love, friendship, respect and hospitality.

[Alsace Gal]

@cheriere 

Happy May Day!

Your post brought back memories.

I remember in grade school we used to make our bonnets with paper plates, glue flowers to the top and a slit on each side for a ribbon to tie under our chin. We did the same for Easter.

My dear sister and I would cut flowers and put them in a cone, again made from paper plates. We would put little artificial bees and birds on them for decoration, plus ribbons to tie on the front door knob. We would knock and run to the back yard. Mom always acted surprised, hugs and kisses followed.

This was in the 1950's

[Alsace Gal]

[cheriere]

@Alsace Gal 

Oh my, that sounds like so much fun!😃. We had a thing called Derby Day at school in honor of the Ky Derby in May.  The girls got to make paper plate hats with lots of flowers and a ribbon tied through just like you said.

I sure wish I'd have known about the tradition of leaving a surprise like you described.  I'll bet you and your sister loved to surprise your mom with those flowers. ❤️
What a lovely memory to share with us.  Thank you so much.💝🌸

[shy bobcat]

When I was in elementary school, we celebrated May Day with dances performed by each class. Parents were invited to come and watch. I always remember it as a fun and beautiful day.  The weather was always nice so the event was held outside.

[cheriere]

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@shy bobcat wrote:

When I was in elementary school, we celebrated May Day with dances performed by each class. Parents were invited to come and watch. I always remember it as a fun and beautiful day. 

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That's what they did where my cousins went to school too.  When she was in 6th grade, she got to be the May Day Queen that year lol.

I can still remember how exciting it was for them to decorate all of the stuff for the dance.😃💝

[I am still oxox]

My elementary school had a May Festival every year each grade preformed, all parents were invited and it was a big event. The girls and boys in the 6th grade had the opportunity to dance the May Pole. I was lucky to be awarded that opportunity, and I have very fond memories of the day. 

[GinaV24]

Thanks for the wonderful post about May Day traditions @cheriere   

[GinaV24]

@Alsace Gal ahh lily of the valley. Always a favorite. My grandmother had a very large patch of these next to the front porch.  As a kid I remember picking a bouquet of them and we'd sit together enjoying the wonderful scent. 

[On It]

@cheriere I recall one May Pole dance at our school. I was fascinated, but younger than the participants.