Now don't tell me about the first day of May being celebrated as a Workers' Day, or a really big deal for international Communists.
And don't start with it being the first day of Asian Pacific American Heritage month or that it's celebrated as Lei Day in Hawaii.
Or that it's National Learn to Ride a Bike Day or World Carnivorous Plant Day.
I might lean a bit in the direction of National Chocolate Parfait Day.
When I was a tot, the first of May was celebrated by hanging May Baskets on people's doorknobs and running away.
The lucky recipient would open the door to find no one there but a basket containing these types of candies.
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I've outgrown those.
No I go back, way back, to the ancient pagans who knew how to mark this period between Spring and Summer.
They danced around a May-Pole.
Modern Day Pagans paint themselves green and indulge in drinking and dining and perhaps some other whims of mind.
However and whatever you celebrate, Happy May Day!
In 1980, we lived in Anchorage, AK. I was the health director for Head Start, and had a side gig teaching at the local University. On May day that year, the youngest daughter and I set off at 4am, with May Day baskets she'd prepared, with a few candies and copies of the IWW song book, with poems about Joe Hill. She hung them, didn't knock (it was rather early).
ReplyDeleteI wonder how that was received.
DeleteQuite well, we were selective in her recipients.
DeleteMe, too! The baskets were made out of construction paper and a bouquet of violets, lily of the valley, etc. were wrapped in aluminum foil and put inside. We rang the bell and ran away. What good fun. You are showing valentine candy from February! That can't be right! Leftovers?
ReplyDeleteNope, that's what was in our May Baskets.
DeleteNo kidding!
DeleteYesterday I made a lovely soup of eggplant, chickpeas, and tomatoes. There was even enough for tonight's dinner.
ReplyDeleteYou may notice a strange comment from me. It was supposed to go on another blog, so go ahead and delete it :-)
ReplyDeleteNever!
DeleteLooks like that for some people My Day is a big deal. I've never thought about May Day celebrations.
ReplyDeleteI remember the May day flower baskets! To me May feels like spring. April is still a bit winterish.
ReplyDeleteI haven't ever celebrated May Day. Even in our schools it wasn't done. We do have our Mother's Day in May though, on the second Sunday.
ReplyDeleteSay what?? May already? How did that happen?
ReplyDeleteNo! No! No! It's May day Paris riots day.
ReplyDeleteThe Celtic festival of Beltane, of purifying fire..and the beginning of summer..
ReplyDeleteWho was May Day? I have heard that her sisters were called April , June and Sunny.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of these baskets but what a fun thing that would be.
ReplyDeleteIsn't May Day a big thing in Russia and other communist countries? At any rate, we didn't do much with it in Florida, where it's just another hot day on the long march toward summer!
ReplyDeleteI don't remember ever celebrating May Day, but I do remember always loving when the month of May arrived. It is the month of my twin brother and my birthday. Yay May! (NewRobin13)
ReplyDeleteWe never did anything to celebrate the first of May but I am glad that Spring weather has finally arrived here! :) Happy May Day to you!
ReplyDeleteMany years ago when I lived in Oxford (England) I took part in one of the May Day celebrations - we all ascended Magdalen College Tower, where the college choir sang hymns to the rising sun. Later, there was much student horseplay around the river Isis alongside the college.
ReplyDeleteThose are new to me.
ReplyDelete