There are two veins of thought when it comes
to the origins of the May Day celebration. Did the holiday originate in Europe
or the United States?
Actually, they are both correct. Let me
explain.
During the early 13th century, the Celts
living in what is now known as the United Kingdom related Spring to fertility -
the idea that Spring brought new birth to all living things. It is when Winter
ends and new life begins to spring from the earth - hence the season's name. It
was also a time of the return of the birds from their winter nesting grounds,
when calves were born, and mares were giving birth to their young. All living
things, including humans and their wearied spirits, were renewed with the
coming of the sun.
In honor of this renewal of life, the
inhabitants of the Emerald Isle celebrated the 1st of May with baskets of
flowers and events that included the May Pole, a tall monolith standing
straight up from the ground. Attached to the top of the pole were brightly
colored streamers. The game played around these poles went like this.
Children and adults would
hold the loose end of a streamer. When
the music makers began to
play, all participants would start to move,
but not all in the same direction.
Every other person would walk
to the right, while the rest
moved to the left. The idea was to weave
in and out around each other
so that the streamers crossed each other
in a specific pattern. If
done right, the pole would be wound in a
beautiful tapestry of color.
If not, the participants might be wrapped
instead.
Many of the
traditions that accompanied this celebration (then known as Beltane - "Day
of Fire") - were carried to America with the immigrants from England, who
continued the traditions of their ancestors including the Maypole Dance and the
giving of flowers baskets. However, it was on 1 May 1886, known as
International Workers' Day, that thousands upon thousands of workers in factories
all across the United States walked off their jobs in protest, demanding better
working conditions and an eight-hour workday. Within days, riots broke out as
police attempted to put an end to the protests and speeches in the streets by
the workers and their leaders. Chaos ensued, workers were injured or killed, and
a few police died in the fighting. This is considered the beginning of the
labor movement and indeed led to the growth of labor unions.
Several European countries followed suit, and
corporations finally gave way to the workers’ demands.
May Day is still celebrated in countries
around the world, each with its own traditions. In the United States, when
International Workers' Day became Labor Day, now celebrated on the first Monday
in September, May Day and its traditions were all but forgotten here.
Shame, really. May Days were always fun when
I was young. Our traditions included someone hanging a May Day Basket on the
door of a family member, friend, or neighbor. The basket was usually filled
with flowers, candy, and an assortment of other goodies. The person leaving the
basket would knock and then run away. Anyone inside the house would fly
out the door in hot pursuit. The idea was that if you caught the person leaving
the basket, they had to kiss you. We kids didn't go for that. We chased, but
when it came to the kissing, we let our mothers manage that one.
Holidays are for celebrating, and traditions
should be passed down through the generations. Let's bring back the May Day
traditions from our past. If your family never recognized May Day, or never
even heard of it, start a new tradition. Get your friends and neighbors
involved. After all, that's what Spring is all about...the revival
of life.
