While not as well publicized or celebrated as other holidays, May Day has been around for a surprisingly long time. It’s origins are not entirely known, but the spring holiday is believed to have had it’s start as an ancient Celtic or Germanic seasonal celebration. From what historians understand, the celebrations were performed on behalf of the end of the cold and chilly months of winter and was a holiday full of excitement and cheer meant to mark the beginning of summer.
However, a newly Christian Europe viewed May Day as a pagan festival and the midsummer celebration quickly slipped into obscurity. At least for a while.
The resurgence of May Day occurred in the late 1800s and early 1900s, but this time as a part of the labor movement. At that time it was not uncommon for factory workers to work fourteen to eighteen hour workdays (with some working as much as twenty!). This injustice brought about the formation of large labor unions set up to protect the rights of workers. And it was through these unions that the first eight hour workday was established in May of 1886. Since that time May Day has been known throughout the world to be synonymous with International Workers’ Day and to be a symbol of labor’s success against unjust working conditions.
Today May Day shares a little from both of it’s founding traditions, being a day to celebrate the rights of workers as well as a day to celebrate the beginning of summer. For kids the tradition most strongly associated with the holiday is the making and giving of May Day baskets. These baskets typically hold flowers and treats and are left on the doorsteps of neighbors and friends.
How it’s supposed to work is after you leave the basket on their doorstep, you ring their doorbell and run away. And if your neighbor catches you, they give you a kiss. However, this practice is not popular in the United States and I would recommend against trying it out, especially with your kids.
Nonetheless, making and receiving May Day baskets is a great way to celebrate the season and show those around you that you care about them. And if you’re so inclined, May Day also makes for an excellent opportunity to explain how workers rights were first established.
