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It is the time of
year when warmer
weather begins and
flowers and trees
start to blossom. It
is a time of love and
romance. It is when
people celebrate the
coming of summer
with lots of
different customs
that are expressions
of joy and hope
after a long winter.
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‘There's not a budding boy, or girl, this day,
But is got up, and gone to bring in May’.
Herrick, a 17th century English poet
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May this May Day basket bring
a spring to your stride and a smile to
eyes!
May Day began early in the morning. People would
go out before sunrise in order to gather flowers and
greenery to decorate their houses and villages with
in the belief that the vegetation spirits would bring
good fortune.
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The highlight of the day was the crowning of the May
Queen, the human replica of Flora. By tradition she took
no part in the games or dancing, but sat like a queen in a
flower-decked chair to watch her 'subjects'.
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In the North of England, the first of May was a kind
of late 'April Fooling' when all sorts of pranks would
take place and 'May Gosling' was the shout if you
managed to trick someone. The response would be:
'May Goslings past and gone. You're the fool
for making me one!'
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In some places, May Day celebrations begin
at sunset on 30 April. They include lots of
floral decorations and processions through
towns and villages.
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On May day, people used
to cut down young trees
and stick them in the
ground in the village to
mark the arrival of
summer. People danced
around them in
celebration of the end of
winter and the start of
the fine weather that
would allow planting to
begin.
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The custom of well-dressing is
popular all over Derbyshire.
The wells are dressed with
large framed panels decorated
with elaborate mosaic-like
pictures made of flower petals,
seeds, grasses, leaves, tree
bark, berries and moss. Welldressings are beautiful and
delicate and take a lot of work
to make, and yet they only last
for a few days.
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