Monday, May 01, 2006
Have a Happy May Day...
May Day (May 1st) is celebrated in many places around the world. The traditions and stories surrounding May Day vary from place to place. MAY DAY today means different things to people all over the world. For children, it's just another holiday while for workers it is Labour Day. In the tropics, May is the time when we reel under the simmering sun. But it is also when trees flower and a wide variety of fruit sweeten our lives. And, for some, it's time for frivolity and beauty pageants at clubs and social institutions where the May Queen and May King are crowned. There is, however, one thing that is similar in most celebrations - the use of flowers! (You know, the kind brought by April showers...)
One of the most popularly known May Day traditions is to hang a basket full of spring flowers and/or other small gifts on a neighbor's doorknob. The trick is you don't want the neighbor to see you! If you get caught, you are supposed to get a kiss.
Another popular activity on May Day is to decorate a pole with brightly colored ribbon or paper streamers. Some also add flowers and balloons. The "Maypole" is usually carried in a parade and then placed in the ground at a designated area. People then dance around the May pole, holding the ends of the streamers or ribbon in their hands.
In London, May Day is celebrated with the children going from house to house. They bring flowers and get pennies in return. The pennies are then thrown into a wishing well. The pennies are then donated to charity.
In France, cows play an important role in May Day. The cows are led in parades with many flowers attached to their tails. The people watching the parade try to touch the cows; it is believed to be good luck. Add a flower to its tail and put on a parade!
In Germany, one tradition is for boys to secretly plant a May tree in front of the window of the girl they love.
On May 1st, people in Hawaii celebrate their own version of May Day; they call it Lei Day. People give Hawaiian leis to each other. They put them around each other's necks and sometimes give a traditional kiss.
Here May Day is normally a celebration of Spring. A time of traditional May baskets. Learn how to dance the Maypole dance, send a card, or do some special crafts and activities from some of the resources below:
May Day (May 1st) is celebrated in many places around the world. The traditions and stories surrounding May Day vary from place to place. MAY DAY today means different things to people all over the world. For children, it's just another holiday while for workers it is Labour Day. In the tropics, May is the time when we reel under the simmering sun. But it is also when trees flower and a wide variety of fruit sweeten our lives. And, for some, it's time for frivolity and beauty pageants at clubs and social institutions where the May Queen and May King are crowned. There is, however, one thing that is similar in most celebrations - the use of flowers! (You know, the kind brought by April showers...)
One of the most popularly known May Day traditions is to hang a basket full of spring flowers and/or other small gifts on a neighbor's doorknob. The trick is you don't want the neighbor to see you! If you get caught, you are supposed to get a kiss.
Another popular activity on May Day is to decorate a pole with brightly colored ribbon or paper streamers. Some also add flowers and balloons. The "Maypole" is usually carried in a parade and then placed in the ground at a designated area. People then dance around the May pole, holding the ends of the streamers or ribbon in their hands.
In London, May Day is celebrated with the children going from house to house. They bring flowers and get pennies in return. The pennies are then thrown into a wishing well. The pennies are then donated to charity.
In France, cows play an important role in May Day. The cows are led in parades with many flowers attached to their tails. The people watching the parade try to touch the cows; it is believed to be good luck. Add a flower to its tail and put on a parade!
In Germany, one tradition is for boys to secretly plant a May tree in front of the window of the girl they love.
On May 1st, people in Hawaii celebrate their own version of May Day; they call it Lei Day. People give Hawaiian leis to each other. They put them around each other's necks and sometimes give a traditional kiss.
Here May Day is normally a celebration of Spring. A time of traditional May baskets. Learn how to dance the Maypole dance, send a card, or do some special crafts and activities from some of the resources below:
- Kids Domain
- DLTK Kids
- Perpetual Preschool
- Everything Preschool
- Crayola
- The Holiday Spot
- Very Best Kids
// posted by Tammy Wachter @ 3:46 PM 
