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From Maypoles to Missiles Paraded on Red Square, May Day's History has had a Series of Interesting and Diverse Customs.
"Summer is coming, Oh, Summer is near With the leaves on the trees and the sky blue and clear And the small birds are singing their fond notes so true And the wild flowers are springing in the May morning dew" - folk song
Every May 1st the residents of Mendon, Utah put their daily lives on hold to celebrate the coming of Spring. Each year since 1863 the small mountain town has celebrated May Day with an important set of traditions and celebrations. The town randomly selects a May Day Queen from all girls who are high school juniors. Then they choose a consort, maids of honor, and escorts for the maids. All of the girls in first through fifth grade wear matching dresses and perform the Maypole dance in the same way it has been performed for hundreds of years. Former residents of Mendon return and the town celebrates springtime in the same way it has for 117 years. They sing the same songs, deliver the same coronation speeches, and protect their traditions. Though in this day and age a celebration of over a hundred years seems like a feat, this May Day has its earliest origins in the time of ancient Egypt and India, when cultures there used springtime to celebrate fertility festivals. May Day's alter ego appears in various cities across the United States and Canada in the form of labor groups and socialist organizations that use May Day to celebrate the worker and champion worker's rights. These groups use parades, workshops, teach-ins and more to demonstrate the will of the working class and work to destroy class distinction. This is a stark contrast to the charming lightheartedness of traditional celebrations like the one in Mendon, Utah, but it too has a historical origin. Historical Origins of May Day Although the original, traditional May Day most likely originated in Egypt and India, the celebrations and the significance of May varied among different cultures. As the tradition moved west it firmly took hold first among the Roman and Celtic cultures and then began to take the shape that we and the citizens of Mendon, Utah are most familiar with today. The Roman celebration was a five day fest to honor Floralia the goddess of flowers and spring. The Romans celebrated her with flower dances and processions, and this gave birth to the maypole tradition still used today. The Celts used the feast to honor Beltane, the god of the Sun. Feasting and games began on the eve of May Day and continued through the next day with a day of bonfires and merrymaking. Using the foundations set in place by the Celts and Romans, May Day became one of the merriest holidays of the Middle Ages. It was made even more celebratory by the fact that there was no associated church service with May Day. This was the first time when the celebration took on its traditional present day form. During this time the dancing and processions continued, but the tradition of gathering flowers and hawthorn branches developed. Hawthorn trees are thought of as the tree of hope, pleasure and protection. The practice of adorning your house with hawthorn branches and helping your neighbors decorate their house is what likely gave birth to the notion of a May basket. The morning dew of May 1st was though to beautify skin if it was rubbed on the face. The emphasis of these festivals was on the fertility of crops, livestock, and humans. The May Queen tradition also originated during these times and her role was to rule over crops in order to ensure their success. In 1644, Puritan leaders of England banned May Day celebrations due to their pagan origins and because they disagreed with the way social class was set aside on the holiday. Although many peasants conituned to celebrate the holiday it made a true comeback during the Restoration of England when parliament overturned the 1644 ban. It was during this time also when May Day moved west with English colonists to what was to become the United States. The holiday was celebrated in basically the same fashion as it had been in Europe. The emphasis was on fertility and the traditions of flower baskets and May Queens continued. It was not until 1886 that the second meaning May Day was born. The Second Meaning of May Day On May 1, 1886 Chicago police attacked workers who were striking to fight for an eight hour workday. During those Haymarket Riots police killed six workers. The next day a bomb went off among a group of police officers killing eight. Later, four anarchist workers were arrested and eventually put to death in Illinois jails. In 1889, the Working Men's Association declared May 1st an international working class holiday in commemoration of the Haymarket martyrs and to recognize the struggles of the common worker. Italian immigrants used May 1st to celebrate "Primo Maggio" and try to further the cause of socialism in American cities. Without a doubt May 1st was a holiday of major significance for places like the former U.S.S.R. who celebrated the day as a socialist/communist holiday and often used the day to hold military parades as a show of communist power. At its most benign base it is a day for workers to fight for fair wages, better working conditions, and fair labor practices. The stark and anti-society actions that many groups use to commemorate May Day. Meanwhile, many of the older agrarian traditions have faded out. While for years many people celebrated May Day in their neighborhoods by delivering may baskets, the tradition has mostly disappeared in our current society. May Day Today That brings us to present day America. Different people celebrate May Day in different ways and often, not at all. New York State historian, Paul D'Ambrosio says, "Although its significance is all but lost today, May Day is a part of our heritage that resonates with feelings of joyous hope for mankind." However, even in the face of the anti-establishment pressure, traditional May Day customs and celebrations exist. This year Mendon, Utah will pick a May Queen. In Pennsylvania May Day 2000 will be celebrated on May 6 with a springtime faerie festival. Hawaii has changed the holiday to celebrate Lei Day. We at AgeNet.com hope you can find a way to celebrate with your family. In this age of technology and commuting there is still room for ritual and celebration. In fact, celebration is very beneficial. Imagine the joy of an older adult, one who probably celebrated May Day when they were younger at discovering a surprise may basket of flowers. The internet contains sites on how to celebrate May Day with your family and how to make simple May Baskets to surprise family or neighbors. As you search the internet yourself you will come across many sites pertaining to the second idea May Day based in socialism, workers rights, and often anarchism. While these sites are technically interesting and well-done beware that many appear to have a very destructive and disruptive message. Even though the holiday has separated into one day with two very different messages, many people still mark May 1st as the coming of spring and a good reason to celebrate with kindness and merriment. We hope you do too. Interesting Links About May Day: Instructions and Photos for Making May Baskets Ideas for Celebrating a Family May Day History and Information About Mendon, Utah and its May Day Celebration
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