A Brief History of the May Day Holiday

 

1932 Queen Virginia Radie Zahnow and Court





May Queen Margaret Crawford 1922

In the past, May Day was celebrated during a time when nature and trees were worshipped. The festival began in Northern England, but spread throughout Europe. Later, May Day moved into the United States, and today it is practiced in various other countries. For instance, in Hawaii, it is called Lei Day. 



May Queen 1925 Clarice Wernicke Culver

 

 

 

 

 

1954 JoAnn Repass on Throne

In the ancient Roman culture, the festival was called Floralia. It was held on April 27^th and celebrated the Goddess Flora, who prevailed over all flowers. May Day was a festival where people decorated their homes with tree branches and flowers on what is now May 1^st. People went into the forest, bringing back flowers and branches to place around their home’s windows and doors just as the sun rose.

 

 

People, at that time, believed that each and every tree was the home of a kindly tree spirit. Homes were then decorated with branches to please these spirits in hopes that the spring would bring sunshine and rain. In turn, the valley would have a fertile growing season and crops would grow plentifully. May Day was a festival to celebrate the coming of spring after the arduous hardships that winter brought. A further tradition was placing flowers around a May Pole that was erected, and the choosing a King or Queen for the festival. The May Queen was chosen to be an earthly representation of the Roman goddess Flora.



May Day Throne 1948 - Queen Marjorie Deutsch

 

Citations:

“A history of May Day – why do we celebrate it?” Metro. Associated Newspapers Limited, 2015. Web. 28 March 2015.

American Child Health Association. May Day Festival Book: Some Suggestions for Celebrating Child Health Day. New York: American Child Health Association, 1929. Print.

Baldwin Wallace University Archives

Beard, Lina and Adelia Belle Beard. The Original Girl's Handy Book. New York: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers Inc, 2007. Print.

“Seven cultures that celebrate May Day.” How It Works. Imagine Publishing Ltd., 2015. Web. 28 March 2015.