May 1st, or May Day as it is referred to in the Northeastern hemisphere, is a holiday observed by many people of varying religious—and non-religious—groups that is meant to symbolize the return of spring. May Day traces its origins back to early Roman and Greek celebrations of fertility and life—like the Festival of Flora—as well as the Celtic Pagan celebration of Beltane, and the Germanic festival of Walpurgis Night. All of these festivals are characterized by dancing, appreciation for nature, and offerings/prayers made to promote a bountiful harvest in the coming summer and fall.
In addition to being a day to celebrate and recognize spring in a community setting, May Day has also been historically considered a day of great spiritual importance. The Celtic Pagan holiday of Beltane is considered by wiccans to be one of the four most important spiritual celebrations of the year, and falls exactly six months away from Samhain (Halloween). Both of these days are considered to be the days when the veil between this world and the spiritual world is thinnest, and thus the most effective days to perform rituals or be in contact with spirits and energy.
May Day isn’t just a spiritual and seasonal holiday either. Throughout history May 1st has seen many riots and strikes due to the fact that May Day also coincides with International Workers’ Day which started during the labor union movement in an effort to petition for an eight-hour working day, as opposed to the lengthy hours people were originally working. May Day remains to be an important holiday for people all across the northern hemisphere, and is celebrated in many different forms. Here are just a few ways that you can get in on the celebration:
1. Partake in a traditional May Day celebration
Depending on where you live, this may be very easy or very difficult, but a quick trip to Google will help you find out if there are any May Day celebrations near you. Note, May Day also goes by the name of Beltane, Walpurgis Night, and Morris Day—among others—so spend a little while seeing what you can find.
2. Go for a walk and appreciate nature
If you can’t find a community May Day celebration, no worries, you can still celebrate by going outside and appreciating nature—weather provided of course. You don’t need fancy ribbons and clothes to celebrate May Day, all you need is a good pair of walking shoes and some decent walking trails or a park. Plus you could even pack a picnic!
3. Host some friends and family for a lunch or dinner celebration
May Day symbolically signifies the end of winter food provisions which makes it a great time to host your family or friends from some sort of celebratory meal. The food of May Day celebrations is all about being grateful for the returned flavors of spring in bloom. Oatcakes, foraged ingredients (wild mushrooms, wild onions, spring greens, etc,) and richly flavored animal products like goat cheese are all customary.
4. Have a bonfire
A huge aspect of Beltane is fire, and having bonfires or burning torches has become a big part of May Day. Having a bonfire and enjoying the warmth is a great way to recognize the coming of summer and appreciate this bountiful time.
5. Pick/plant flowers
Spring is synonymous with flowers, and a great way to celebrate the formal introduction of spring and the end of winter is to spread a little color. Take a trip to your local garden store and buy a new bulb for in your garden, or a succulent for by your window. If you're strapped for cash, you can pick some flowers at a local park, or even the dandelions from your front yard.
