Growing up I don't think I ever really heard much about this particular day, May Day. It has pagan origins as do many of the holidays that we observe and acknowledge. Over the centuries, the how and why wind up being co-opted or sanitized and often we celebrate certain occasions because it's what our family or community does without really knowing the significance or history. But, the truth is, everything has a reason for beginning and May Day has many backstories.
Beltane is the Gaelic May Day Festival that celebrates the midpoint between spring and summer (while Samhain, or Halloween, is the crossquarter between autumn and winter). One represents rebirth, and one represents death -- which could also be thought of as light and dark, growth and rest. The yin and yang of life.
The innocence of dancing around a maypole (though that has a checkered past according to one article I read) and May Basket Day that used to be a thing in the late 1800's and early 1900's when handmade baskets of flowers or treats were hung on doors at dusk. (Puritans discouraged the maypole dances so perhaps that's how the tradition of baskets came about.)
On May 1, 1886, an uprising of workers in the United States demanded shorter work days and better working conditions. Peaceful protests after a few days turned into the Haymarket Riots that resulted in repression across the country and the wrongful labeling of 8 men as anarchists, 7 of which were sentenced to death. 4 died by hanging, one committed suicide and 3 others were pardoned after 6 years. Ironically, May Day was established to honor the Haymarket Martyrs by European countries with socialist or communist influences, while the United States, the very place where the protests started, decided to choose the first Monday in September as its May Day and called it Labor Day.
This May Day, we honor the workers and are reminded that significant societal and systemic change often occurs because of unity through protests, demonstrations and strikes.
And although the distress call often used by aviators and mariners of "mayday, mayday" has nothing to do with the first day of May, I think it is very relevant in these distressing times.
May we always seek to shine a light on injustice and speak truth to power.
(Albert Einstein)
7 comments:
Beautiful photos!
WOW I never knew that May Day was so pagan. I always just thought of it as a day to give flowers to someone you love.
I'm sorry you injured your ankle. I hope it heals well. May Day celebrations are not very common here, although my mother tells me that she once danced around a May pole when she was in school. And I like the French custom of giving little posies of Lily of the Valley on the first of May.
Lovely groups of color and flowers Tammy. I used to dance the maypole in my elementary school in England - such fun! Thanks for all the history notes here - and nice to see you again dear.
Hugs - Mary
Dearest Tammy,
Lovely photos and yes, the first of May is special and has its history.
My Pieter did not live to see this year's May roll in as he went to heaven the morning after his 95th Birthday! So happy he is HOME!
A life well lived.
Hugs,
Mariette
I was married 48 years ago on May 1 so it has been special to me for that reason! lol
The flowers on this post are beautiful!
I remember delivering May Baskets when I was a child. We would make little baskets out of whatever we had and filled them with flowers or candy or both. Then we would tiptoe up to the door, ring the bell, and RUN! It was so much fun. I'm not sure why I stopped. I guess I grew up!?
I'm trying to catch up on blogs today since we've been out camping all week. No internet which means I'm very behind.
Blessings,
Betsy
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