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| Queen Guinevere's Maying by John Collier |
May Day. Gathering and bestowing of flowers, dancing around May
Poles. What a delightful and innocent way to welcome Summer.
Or so we might think in the 21st Century. In fact, like so many of our holiday traditions, May Day has its origins in ancient times and through several cultures. As so many of those current holidays, the Church also has a religious observance slotted for that day, as well.
Or so we might think in the 21st Century. In fact, like so many of our holiday traditions, May Day has its origins in ancient times and through several cultures. As so many of those current holidays, the Church also has a religious observance slotted for that day, as well.
The feast of Sts. Phillip and James is held on May 1,
honoring the dedication of a church now known at the Church of the Twelve
Apostles, located in Rome. It originally was dedicated to Phillip and James.
Also from Rome—at least, from early Romans—comes the
festival of Floralia, celebrating Flora goddess of flowers.
May 1 falls on an important date in other early
non-Christian cultures. It coincides with the Gaelic Beltane festivities,
marking the return of Summer. While Spring was observed earlier, Summer was
especially important, because the first crops were beginning to peek above the
ground and the fertility was to be celebrated. Green was a color especially
tied to the day, most evident in the later Middle Ages.
Beltane began the evening of April 30 and continued the
following day. Huge bonfires were lit to much rejoicing, celebrating fertility.
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| "Mayflowers" Hawthorne blossoms |
Early in the morning, young men and women would go into the
fields and forests to pick flowers and greenery. The phrase “gone-a-Maying”
stems from that (Cosman.) The day of feasting often was capped by entertainment
such as that from Morris Dancers, a group of men who would perform for the
villagers.
Often, villages would erect May Poles. The original purpose
of the May Pole isn’t clear, but it has been suggested they may have been phallic
symbols to represent fertility. Young girls danced around the poles in early
such festivities. Eventually the tradition evolved, and the poles were
decorated with flowers and ribbons. Some sources say any of the villagers could
dance around them, although the activity was often the purview of the young. Some
such poles were so tall, they had to be embedded in the earth. They were left
standing year-round.
Just in case we think all this might only be myth, the
London church St. Andrew Undershaft reportedly took its name from the May Pole
that was erected across from it each year. (The May Pole there met its end at
the hands of a mob in 1547, who declared it a “pagan idol.”)
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| Sweet surprise for neighbors |
Much later in the 20th Century, the May Pole our
elementary class danced around weaving crepe paper streamers into colorful
patterns wasn’t pagan, however. That dance had taken on the tradition of a folk
activity and was treated as fun and games.
In addition, I recall
my friends and I making May baskets to hang on doorknobs on May Day. It was a
sweet activity and I hate to see it—or the May Pole— slip into oblivion.
Sources:
http://www.medieval-life-and-times.info/medieval-life/may-pole-dancing.htm http://www.medieval.net/gingerbread.htm http://www.lordsandladies.org/middle-ages-holidays.htm http://www.medieval-life.net/festivals.htm
Cosman, Madeleine Pelner. Medieval Holidays and Festivals New York: Scribners, 1981
