May Day

Worldwide, May 1st is a day of celebration.  Referred to by most people as May Day, or Beltane, its history goes back to earliest times.  May Day is a time to celebrate the beauty of spring, the bright colors of nature, and flowers, as well as labor.  Dancing around the Maypole, a pole of brightly colored ribbons, is one way to celebrate this day.

I remember that our elementary school used to hold a spring festival each year.  When I was in fourth grade, our class had the honor of dancing around the Maypole in the gymnasium.  We practiced for weeks and on the day of the festival we danced the ins and outs and ups and downs with the ribbons perfectly.  I wonder if any children in America still enjoy this fun.

Here is an image of British children dancing the Maypole.