Today is May Day!

[Tom]

Yep, a day celebrated around the world for centuries.  I guess it is universal because it designates a celebration of Spring.   Pagans celebrated it, Christians celebrate it, Atheists celebrate it, it's just a fun day.

When Charlie and I were little, and in Elementary school, we were dressed up in clean and starched trousers and sports shirts (usually white and I wore a yellow tie) and taken to the football field for music, singing, speeches from city officials and a May pole dance.  (!!)

The poles were about 10 feet tall and mounted in cemented tires. From their tops hung long ribbons.  Everyone in the dance, each class had a pole or two, would take hold of a ribbon and, when the music started, would weave/dance/skip in and out as they encircled the pole.  The pole would end up with a diamond pattern and the ribbons would be too short to continue.  Then we would be dismissed and go skipping merrily along, in single file, off of the end of the field.  La-la La-la La!

We were the important ones and all the adults waited for the May Pole Dance.  They took pictures and clapped and we made them very merry.  ;D ;D

Then we went home.  :D

[Jeff]

I remember the May pole dance. We did it in early elementary school.  I wished Stacy Happy Mayday at around 12:10 this morning.  She looked at me like I was crazy.

[asy]

Is OK Jeff, those of us who are "older" wish you a happy MayDay right back!

Good thing here is it's a public holiday!  :D

Well, the public holiday is Labor Day - which is May 1st.

asy

[Gary_C]

I had kind of forgotten about May Day celebrations since they seem to have fallen completely out of view. Here from Wiki is one good old American tradition that is certainly gone.

May Day was also celebrated by some early European settlers of the American continent. In some parts of the United States, May Baskets are made. These baskets are small and usually filled with flowers or treats and left at someone's doorstep. The basket giver would ring the bell and run away. The person receiving the basket would try to catch the fleeing giver. If they caught the person, a kiss was to be exchanged.

You can only imagine the results if that tradition was practiced today.  :D

And wasn't this the day that the Soviets had their military prade thru Moscow?

[DouginUtah]

Yesterday was Arbor Day.  8)  I'm surprised that there was not a mention of it on the Forestry Forum.

Guess I should Google it since I don't know much about it.  ;D

[Tom]

I always felt of Arbor day as being more of a Yuppy, Green, gardening, anti-something kind of day, more than a walk in the woods or admire a real tree kind of day.

[Larry]

And wasn't this the day that the Soviets had their military prade thru Moscow?

Was not that the Nikita Khrushchev years?  Big trucks with really scary missiles loaded on them.  Long time ago.

I prefer remembering the May pole thing when I was quite young and mostly innocent.

[Norm]

I remember as a kid the tradition of giving May baskets to friends. Ours were a big paper cup that had a pipe cleaner handle with it filled with popcorn and candy.

[Slabs]

Yep.
The maypole is what I remember about May Day.  With our elementary school presentation in the late 40's, I can remember my grandma saying that they will never unravel that mess but the kids just reversed the process and wound up with the straight crepe paper stringers.

Then I grew up and saw the Soviet May day.  Shot me right out of the saddle.  20+ years in uniform spoils a lot of childhood fantacies.

[CHARLIE]

I had never heard of May baskets until I moved up to Minnesota in 1972.  No May Poles but the children all had May Baskets and went door to door.  That wasn't done in the South as far as I know.  Now, I think hardly anyone does any kind of celebration on May Day.

[Brucer]

Also International Worker's Day.

I woke up this morning and it was snowing. Happy Mayday >:(.

[thecfarm]

I remember my Aunt talking about the baskets.I should of called her yesterday and wished her a Happy May Day.  :-[  Now it will be a late wish,but I will call her anyways.I don't remember her talking about the pole.

[bandmiller2]

Why when a ships in trouble do they holler may day on the wireless??Frank C.

[asy]

Great question Frank!

I lookied it up...

MAYDAY:
"distress call," 1927, from Fr. m'aider, shortening of venez m'aider "come help me!"

Interesting!

asy :D