Memories of May Day

When I was a little girl (about a million years ago!!!), the 1st of May was celebrated in two very fun ways.  The first was hanging May baskets on people's doors.  You would put pretty flowers and small gifts in a basket and hang it on a friend's door (or leave it on their front step) anonymously.  It was so much fun, and it really taught children about the importance of giving without expecting something in return.  I remember how excited I was to leave a May basket on the door of a friend, knowing how much happiness it would bring them.  Look at these wonderful May baskets.  Aren't they beautiful?  Wouldn't you LOVE to have someone leave one of these on your door?

Picture from:  flickr.com

Picture from:  http://cutepotato.com/2011/04/29/may-baskets/

Picture from:  http://www.tseka.com/2008/04/30/may-day-valborg/

This last picture is is one that I found posted by Melissa Lester on her blog, A Little Loveliness.  You can see more pictures of her May basket and get directions for making one by visiting Melissa's blog here.

The second fun way that we celebrated May Day was by having a Maypole Dance.  Brightly colored ribbons or streamers are attached to a pole.  Dancers gather in a circle around the pole, holding the ends of the ribbons. As they dance around the pole, the ribbons are intertwined around the pole making a beautiful pattern.

Picture from:  http://www.livingneighborhoods.org/

I remember, as a small girl, standing there holding my ribbon and looking up at the top of the pole.  It was SO beautiful!  I was thrilled to be able to participate and make such a pretty design on the pole as we danced in a circle around it.  Here's what it looked like as I looked up at the top of the pole.

Picture from:  http://www.moonsmuses.com/beltane.html


And this is what the pole looks like when the dance is done.  The dancers can retrace their steps to unravel the ribbons, but they have to be very exact or they wind up with a huge mess! 

Picture from:  http://www.livingneighborhoods.org/ht-0/westdean.htm

These were such wonderful traditions.  It's a shame that we don't still do these things in our busy modern lives.  Sometimes I think it would be nice to be a child again, to be able to deliver pretty May baskets to friends and neighbors, and to dance around the Maypole.  {sigh...}