Happy May Day!

One of my innocent sweet pure memories of my childhood was the dance around the May pole in elementary school. Yes some of the historical traditions are rooted in Pagan worship....
Here I am just simply saying it was a memory that is rare of my childhood.
It feels free, joyous and innocent.
It is a dusting of beauty in a cloudy existence of this woman's childhood.



The maypole is augmentative of other things not so complimentary yes,
BUT TO THE PURE ALL THINGS ARE PURE.

That is how I recall it.
For me the celebration of life meant that in a few days I would celebrate my birth.
I remember feeling that May Day was a part of me, a celebration of life.
I saw beauty around me the days preceding the day that marked the beginning of many years of death and destruction.
Mayday however reminded me that somewhere there was life.
Somewhere beauty, innocence and joy rebounded and then...then I was born.
Flowers and the beauty around me in nature is Gods May Day Basket to me.
I catch Him as give him a holy kiss for the gift.
His gift to me...being surrounded with beauty.

May Day occurs on May 1 and refers to the Haymarket affair or any of several public holidays.^[1] In many countries, May Day is synonymous with International Workers' Day, or Labour Day, which celebrates the social and economic achievements of the labour movement. As a day of celebration the holiday has ancient origins, and it can relate to many customs that have survived into modern times.

To Learn more

The day was a traditional summer holiday in many pre-Christian European pagan cultures. While February 1 was the first day of Spring, May 1 was the first day of summer; hence, the summer solstice on June 25 (now June 21) was Midsummer. In the Roman Catholic tradition, May is observed as Mary's month, and in these circles May Day is usually a celebration of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In this connection, in works of art, school skits, and so forth, Mary's head will often be adorned with flowers. Fading in popularity since the late 20th century is the giving of "May baskets," small baskets of sweets and/or flowers, usually left anonymously on neighbours' doorsteps.

May Day Baskets
Make a flower-filled basket for a friend
The tradition of the ancient Roman and Druid holiday of May Day has endured for centuries. It has been a celebration of spring turning into the pleasures of summer. Traditionally, a "Maypole" was the focus of the festivals. Even today the Maypole is used in the replications of old-time festivals. The Maypole is a tall pole in which ribbons are woven around by groups of dancers to make unique designs and patterns. Gathering flowers and branches became a tradition and "bringing in the May" became a popular activity on May 1. The giving of baskets became part of the festivities later in the evolution of May Day. Today baskets are often made by little children, filled with candy or flowers and then placed on people's doorsteps or tied to the door handle, as they ring the doorbell and dash away before they are caught. You can participate in this activity yourself by making a special May Day basket or using any small basket to fill with flowers to give to a friend. Fill a small basket with freshly gathered Spring blossoms. Tuck a small vase or something that will hold water into the bottom of the basket and fill the basket with a selection of flowers. Tie a bow or ribbon streamers onto the handle and fasten it to the door handle of a friend.