Happy May Day 2014: What's The Celebration All About?

There have been spring festivals around the world since ancient times, with many civilisations rejoicing in the 'return' of the sun after winter.

May Day in the UK

In Britain, May Day is our own spring celebration, with its roots in our Celtic ancestors' annual event of Beltane, that signalled the return of the warmth and light of the summer months.

The date's important because it marks the halfway point between the beginning of spring and the start of summer.

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Odd May Day Traditions

The Maypole - This is one of the most common traditions still seen today. People dance round the Maypole, holding the end of coloured ribbons to wrap it up, then change direction to unwrap it. This is thought to represent the lengthening of the days as we head into summer.

Morris Dancing - Enjoyed by men (and women) with bells on their shoes the nation over, Morris dancing isn't confined to May Day but is a major part of the celebrations. The dance represents the fight between good and evil (summer and winter), with bells, sticks and stomping feet.

May Queen - She is the personification of the festival. She wears a white gown to symbolise purity and leads the procession in the streets before beginning the celebrations. She usually wears a crown of flowers and may make a speech before festivities begin.

Jack in the Green - Slightly more unusual, some communities celebrate with the dressing up of one of their members as a Jack in the Green, who parades or dances along with the other celebrants. The costume is often quite intricate with a frame covered in foliage.

Cornwall's Obby-Oss Day - This sounds a bit of a joke but in some Cornish towns, men dress up as horses and canter around looking for a wife. It dates back to 1803 in Padstow and starts at midnight with singers at the Golden Lion Inn. Overnight they cover the town in May Day foliage and decorations and the 'osses meet in the afternoon with the rest of the celebrants.

Choirs - In Oxford, the early morning of May 1st is greeted by the sounds of the choir singing from the Great Tower, which has happened every year for the past 500.

Bank holiday

The first Monday in May is always a bank holiday to celebrate May Day, which this year falls on a Thursday. So the 5th of May will be the accompanying national holiday.

There may be more than a little bit of rain dotted around the Isle on this May Day, but take heart - the summer is on its way.