May Day Origins

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.