May Day is Also Lei Day: Fun Facts About May 1

By LINDA BOCK

Does anyone remember May Day baskets?

It was not that long ago that baskets filled with flowers, maybe an expression of love or a small trinket, were secretly delivered on May 1, also known as May Day. Some people remember making simple May baskets in school out of construction paper. The baskets were filled with wildflowers and hung on doorknobs of unsuspecting neighbors. Part of the fun for the children was to ring the doorbell, and then hide to be able to watch the recipient’s reaction.

Though the May basket tradition has faded over the years, and May Day has evolved over the centuries, it is still interesting to remember the origins of the once-raucous Spring holiday.

May Day facts from the Encyclopedia Britannica:

When is May Day?

“May Day, in medieval and modern Europe holiday (May 1) for the celebration of the return of spring.”

What are the origins of dancing around the Maypole?

“The observance probably originated in ancient agricultural rituals, and celebrated by ancient Romans and Greeks. Although later practices varied widely, the celebrations came to include the gathering of wildflowers and green branches, the weaving of floral garlands, the crowning of a May king and queen, and the setting up of a decorated May tree, or Maypole around which people danced. Such rites originally may have been intended to ensure fertility for crops and, by extension, for livestock and humans.”

What is one of the most unusual superstitions associated to May Day?

“Among the many superstitions associated with May Day was the belief that washing the face with dew on the morning of May 1 would beautify the skin.”

How come you don’t really see Maypoles in Dedham?

“Because the Puritans of New England considered the celebrations of May Day to be licentious and pagan, they forbade its observance, and the holiday never became an important part of American culture.”

Why are a number of protests held on May 1 in some countries around the world?

“In the 20th century, traditional May Day celebrations declined in many countries as May 1 became associated with the international holiday honouring workers and the labour movement.”

What other holiday is May Day known as?

“May Day is known as Lei Day in Hawaii. Lei Day became an official holiday in 1929. During those first years the event included the selection of a Lei Day queen and court, according to HawaiiHistory.org “May Day Is Lei Day in Hawaii,” is the traditional holiday song. Originally it was a contemporary fox trot, later rearranged as the Hawaiian hula song, according to Mother Nature Network.”

How come the international distress signal ”mayday” has nothing to do with May 1?

The word ‘mayday’ is internationally recognized as an SOS distress signal. The word derived from the French ‘M‘aidez’ meaning ‘help me,’ according to National Maritime Museum Cornwall.

Do you have fond memories of making or receivng May Day baskets? Please share your memories on the comment section below.

Photo Credit: www.thecraftycrow.net