May Day (UK and Republic of Ireland)
Maypole Dancing at Wishford, Wiltshire
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May Day -- An Age-Old Celebration
May Day UK is celebrated on the first Monday of May in the UK and also in the Republic of Ireland. In both countries it is an official Bank Holiday. As the name suggests, banks all close on this day, however so do most businesses. Shops may have reduced opening hours.
May Day is not a religious festival but rather an old pagan custom that has survived from a pre-Christian era. In Lark Rise to Candleford, the account of a late Victorian childhood in rural England, author Flora Thompson describes May Day as being "the greatest day of the year" for children.
These Victorian schoolchildren would make a special May Garland to celebrate the day, covering a cone of wooden hoops with wildflowers, carried on a broomstick. In rural parishes like Flora's, the tradition was to place a china doll at the very top of the garland, rather like the angel on top of the Christmas tree.
All the children dresssed up for these special May Day celebrations with even the most humble village girls wearing bows, sashes and white veils. Boys too would wear a sash over one shoulder. An older girl would be elected as the May Queen. The May Queen was the most important person in the May Day celebrations and she wore a crown of daisies and evergreen leaves. Other children treated her like royalty and she was attended by other girls and sometimes also a May King.
The May Day procession of children made its way around the whole parish, arriving on doorsteps to sing songs in exchange for coins.
Celebrating May Day in modern times -- the revival of Maypole dancing
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These May Day processions of old may have been the precursors of summer carnivals today, with their procession routes and carnival queens.
For most people, May Day itself is simply a time to relax and enjoy some time away from the office, and there are no particular May Day celebrations to mark the holiday. However, in some schools May Day in the UK is still celebrated with the children as a special occasion. Even though in Flora Thompson's time the Maypole dancing of old had already been put aside, this is a charming custom that has been revived in many places in England.
The May Pole is a tall pole bedecked with coloured strips of fabric, each one held by a child. When the children skip around the pole in different directions, twining the strips under and over one another, pretty patterns are formed at the top of the pole. Maypole dancing does take some practice as it is easy to get the ribbons in a twist! Snack food and drinks might also be on offer at these outdoor May Day celebrations, but since it is Britain unfortunately sunny weather can't be guaranteed!
Women Revive an Old English Folk Dance on an Abbey's Lawn Photographic Print -- Buy at AllPosters.com
