Happy May Day!!!

[Flintauqua]

Happy May Day everyone

Does anyone know how one celebrates May Day?

Or what the celebration is based on?

[Jody]

WE WOUND THE MAYPOLE WHEN I WAS A KID.   WE MADE MAY BASKETS.  Tken, we     
DELIVERED   THEM.  WE WOULD PUT THEM ON THE FRONT PORCH AND Yell "MAY BASKET",THEN RUN AND HIDE.  THE LITTLE BASKET HAD FLOWERS IN THEM! 




 

[Wilma]

I have only a vague idea about May Day other than delivering baskets of flowers.  So tell us, Flint, how did it originate.

[Mom70x7]

May Day tidbits:

When I was growing up, we made May Baskets - with candy and flowers - and hung them on the door knob of our "beloved" - then rang the door and hid. Our beloved was supposed to be able to figure out who gave them the May Basket. We were only 7ish at the time and there was a lot of giggling among us girls.

My folks encouraged us, a couple of years later, to make May Baskets and give them to the older generation to show them how much we loved them as well.

The May Pole was decorated. It's been around a long time. I'm not sure how long, but in the musiical "Camelot" - they have a May Pole and a a May Day dance and song. May 1st, then, was kind of celebrated as the first day of summer.

[Jody]

RUSSIA AND cuba are big on MAY day so that should tell you what kind of holiday MAY day has become!

[Wilma]

Once again I have resorted to my ancient edition of the World Book Encyclopedia for an answer.

May Day is traditionally a celebration of the return of Spring.  Some believe that the celebration began with the tree worship of the Druids.  Others believe it goes back to ancient Egypt and India.

In medieval times, May Day was celebrated with the gathering of flowers to decorate homes and churches. A King and Queen of May were chosen and the May Pole was danced around, much as it is today.  Children made paper May baskets, filled them with flowers and hung them on the doors of friends and neighbors.

In 1887, the socialist parties of the world chose May 1 as a day on which working people could show their unity by holding demonstrations.  In many parts of the world, members of communist-dominated political parties and other organizations celebrate May Day in this way.  In Russia, May Day is a national holiday.  Communist leaders celebrate it by making speeches and holding military parades.

May Day was celebrated long, long before the Communist Party adopted it and is merely a celebration of the return of summer.

[Flintauqua]

Thank you Wilma

I actually didn't know much about May Day, thus I had posted the question.  I was thinking along the lines of Stonehenge, etc., but didn't have a clue that it had been co-opted by the socialists. 

Just how ancient is your set of World Book Encyclopedia?  Mine was new in 1960 and was well read by older brother Dan even before I came into this world.

[Wilma]

It is actually a 1967 edition.  I bought it for my girls and kept it for myself and I use it often.

[Teresa]

Mama used to help Sherri and I make our May Baskets. We would cut them from paper and paste a handle on them and then fill them with pretty flowers that we would pick from mama's garden and then put a piece of candy or gum in them and take them to Grandma McD. & Grandma Workman's door.. set them in front, knock on her door .. yell ,"May Basket" and run and hide around the bushes and watch her come out.

I remember that I used to help Danny and Derek continue on with that tradition. We would take them to Mark's folks and my parents  and my Grandma Workman. (The boy's Grandparents  & Great Grandma)

Danny got so upset with Derek cause when they took one to G Workman they yelled may basket and ran to hide behind her bushes. When she come out the door, she made a great big fuss in a loud voice and said," Well, I wonder who in the world left me this great May Basket?"
Derek jumped out from behind the bushes and said , "We did Grandma!".. hahahahaha
Danny wanted it to  be a "forever secret" and he thought Derek spoiled it all. 
He was so mad at him.. lol