Musings on May
Apr. 30th, 2009 10:37 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
patinagle16May Day was always a fascination to me. As a child I had heard stories about May Day and May baskets, leaving secret presents for neighbors at dawn, that kind of thing. I never really got to participate in it, though. It was always one of those "wouldn't it be great" things.
May Day is an ancient fertility celebration. Some interpret that as meaning wild revelry ("Tra-la, it's May, the lusty month of May...") but I tend to think about gardening. Unfortunately, where I live, May Day is not yet frost-free time, but I have plants growing indoors. Some quite enthusiastically, practically screaming to get their little roots into the garden soil. They must wait a week or two.
There are some lovely May carols, with dairy maids and garlands of flowers left by mysterious suitors and all that sort of pastoral thing. I love these. I also love Maypole dances, which I've actually done. And another May tradition - the "Belfire" or bonfire - is something I'm always in favor of (though I've never jumped over one).
For a while May Day was co-opted by communism, kind of the antithesis of the pastoral celebration. It's also become International Workers' Day, which is fine but nowhere near as romantic and fun as the old traditions.
I'm a sucker for romance and tradition. So I will at least light a candle for May Day and probably try to do something with flowers. My schedule isn't going to permit more this year, alas, but maybe next year.
May Day is an ancient fertility celebration. Some interpret that as meaning wild revelry ("Tra-la, it's May, the lusty month of May...") but I tend to think about gardening. Unfortunately, where I live, May Day is not yet frost-free time, but I have plants growing indoors. Some quite enthusiastically, practically screaming to get their little roots into the garden soil. They must wait a week or two.
There are some lovely May carols, with dairy maids and garlands of flowers left by mysterious suitors and all that sort of pastoral thing. I love these. I also love Maypole dances, which I've actually done. And another May tradition - the "Belfire" or bonfire - is something I'm always in favor of (though I've never jumped over one).
For a while May Day was co-opted by communism, kind of the antithesis of the pastoral celebration. It's also become International Workers' Day, which is fine but nowhere near as romantic and fun as the old traditions.
I'm a sucker for romance and tradition. So I will at least light a candle for May Day and probably try to do something with flowers. My schedule isn't going to permit more this year, alas, but maybe next year.
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Date: 2009-04-30 10:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-04 02:15 pm (UTC)