'May Day' has ancient roots in England, going back to Roman times and was also celebrated by the Celts and Saxons. The Celts knew it as Beltane, and was associated with the sun and with the coming of summer.

It was also an important day during medieval times and indeed for centuries after, when villagers would gather to dance around the Maypole. It was actually banned at various times (e.g. during the Cromwell period), because it became associated with drinking, merriment and licentious behaviour.

It didn't become a a 'workers day' or festival until the late 19th century and didn't beome a public holiday in the UK until 1975. In Europe it has became associated with a particular political ideology, i.e. socialism.

However, the socio-economic environment has changed fundamentally in recent decades. Hardly anyone believes in socialism any more, fewer people are members of trades unions and most of those that do probably see their membership as purely instrumental.

Perhaps its time to furl the Red flags and put up the Maypoles again, to celebrate the coming of summer and engage in drinking, merriment and licentious behaviour.

Originally posted by LordChaverly
'May Day' has ancient roots in England, going back to Roman times and was also celebrated by the Celts and Saxons. The Celts knew it as Beltane, and was associated with the sun and with the coming of summer.

It was also an important day during medieval times and indeed for centuries after, when villagers would gather to dance around the Maypole. It was actually banned at various times (e.g. during the Cromwell period), because it became associated with drinking, merriment and licentious behaviour.

It didn't become a a 'workers day' or festival until the late 19th century and didn't beome a public holiday in the UK until 1975. In Europe it has became associated with a particular political ideology, i.e. socialism.

However, the socio-economic environment has changed fundamentally in recent decades. Hardly anyone believes in socialism any more, fewer people are members of trades unions and most of those that do probably see their membership as purely instrumental.

Perhaps its time to furl the Red flags and put up the Maypoles again, to celebrate the coming of summer and engage in drinking, merriment and licentious behaviour.

Ultimately, it is a celebration of Life :)

StarSparkle

When I was at university there was a May Dip on May the first - people would gather at the beach and go for a swim as soon as the sun came up, the Madrigal group would come and sing folk songs too. I was never brave enough to go in the sea though.

Stella x

I believes in Socialism!

Anyway, just to tell you all, my mother was up 'dancing in the may' at Whitby Abbey at dawn. So there you go.

It's a day off :clap:

Political idiologies will come and go, but people will always be seeking a good excuse for a good blout of drinking and making very merry.
Although we can't ever REALLY know what Beltane meant to the Celts, although historians have speculated based on what little records we have, we know at least it was an important festival, and the fact that May Day has persisted up to the 21st Century shows the kind of hold this time of year has on folks.
Many modern neo-pagan paths have incorporated Beltane into their festival calendar - although what it will mean to each pagan is slightly different many mark it as the beginning of summer.
So to any pagan folks on here - Happy Beltane, hope you're having a good one, I am!

Sheffette, glad you are having a belter of a Beltane!

If it's associated that much with Englishness then surely, in the interests of multiculturalism it should be banned - like the flying of Union flags on some council buildings throughout the land?



:thumbsup: Don's been at the 2001 Chardonnay (oak matured) and is feeling teasy :D

This MAY help.

Have a look at one of my web pages.

Scrool down the page and click on the arrow that says,

May day Click (http://www.members.aol.com/syp99/didyou.html)

We should scrap May Day as a Bank Holiday in favour of St. George's Day IMO.

Why scrap May Day?
Would make more sense Having May Day as a holiday AND St georges day (With compulsory flag flying) :clap: