Beltane / May Day May 1   May Eve Chant A old Celtic Chant (April 30) Oak and May and Beltane fire In these we know but one desire May all good people on the Earth Come to Love and Health and Mirth Some say Beltaine (also spelled Baltane) or May Day is a holiday that originated with the ancient Celts. One of the rituals performed by the druids, the Celtic scholars and priests, was to drive all the cattle that belonged to a clan between two bonfires. This protected the cattle and the food they produced from the many demons and evil spirits that the ancient Celts believed inhabited the earth. Some people believe the ancient Romans "invented" the May Pole! Like other ancient civilizations, the ancient Romans worshipped many gods and goddesses. To honor the deities of new life and flowers, legend suggests they cut down a tree, decorated it with ribbons, then danced around it. This was the beginning of the May Pole. It could be true. It would certainly be in character! No one is quite sure who first originated the idea of May Day, but for all the ancient cultures, the coming of summer was cause for celebration. It meant food could be gathered and planted. As part of their celebration, some ancient people gathered flowers and put them on window ledges to keep out pesky fairies. Others filled baskets with gifts and greenery to give to friends and loved ones. The ancient Celts built bonfires, with nine different types of wood, then leaped over the flames for luck. In the Bavarian regions of Germany, people played tricks on each other! Yet, for all its appearance of merriment, for most ancient cultures, May Day was a very serious celebration. Many rituals were designed, not to thank, but to please and to appease the gods. It would not be until the autumn festivals, when the crops were safely harvested, that these ancient people would heave a sigh of relief. Today, May Day is celebrated as a workers holiday, a day off from work with pay, in just about every country in the world except for the United States. The United States does not recognize May Day as a federal holiday. In the U.S., workers are honored on Labor Day, which falls on the first Monday in September, each year. May Day provides an opportunity to compare all ancient cultures or world cultures (Continents & Cultures - East, C&C - West) studied to date. Briefly discuss this holiday with your students. Then ask how they would guess each ancient culture might have celebrated May Day and why. It's timely review. Using a holiday, especially one that is not typically celebrated in the classroom, makes it fun. Celebrate May Day Celebrating May Day Classroom Activities Learn about the ancient Celts (daily life site, Donn) HUGE SITE - Each calendar date has lessons, free ecards, games Beltane Have a great year!  All Rights Reserved Counter start date January 2006     Have a great year!