Happy May Day!

When I was a child, May day meant picking flowers, laying them right outside the front door, ringing the bell, and running away.  My mother would come to the door, look down and act surprised.  She would take the flowers lovingly inside and proudly put them in a vase knowing full well who left them.  It was a fun tradition.

  The first May Day celebrations come from ancient Roman times with the worship of Flora the goddess of flowers and spring.   She is also attributed to fertility, sex, and blossoming.  Then the Beltane Festival from ancient Druid paganism celebrate with great bonfires that are lit on the Eve of Beltane, April 30 in order to welcome the Earth Goddess.  On May 1st a maypole would be erected which signifies the phallic pyramid shaped symbol and the circular dance around the pole is symbolic of the female sex.  Alternating red and white ribbons were connected to the pole and the men would dance counterclockwise, while the ladies danced clockwise. The intertwining red and white ribbons symbolized the act of copulation.  That is one fact I didn't know until I looked it up and I thought it was just a dance celebrating spring.  Anyway you celebrate this day, please have a happy May Day!

Tags: Beltane, Beltane Festival, Bonfires, Celebrations, Druid, Earth Goddess, Eve, Female Sex, Fertility, Flora, Goddess Of Flowers, Happy Day, May Day, May Day Celebrations, Maypole, Nbsp, Paganism, Picking Flowers, Roman Times, Tradition, Vase, White Ribbons