On the first day of May, people around the globe observe May Day with centuries-old traditions celebrating spring’s arrival.
From dancing around towering maypoles to leaving secret baskets of flowers, these wonderful customs connect us to our ancient roots and the cycles of nature.
Let’s take a look at some of the most iconic May Day traditions still kept alive today.
Fascinating May Day Traditions
1. Maypole Dancing
One of the most recognizable May Day festivities is the ribbon dance around the maypole.
This tall wooden pole is decorated with bright ribbons and lush greenery. In towns across Europe and the UK, crowds gather to watch as dancers weave the ribbons into intricate woven patterns, accompanied by folk music and singing.
The maypole likely originated as a fertility symbol celebrating the earth’s reawakening in springtime.
2. Flower Crowns & Baskets
Flowers are the true stars of May Day. In Sweden, children craft wildflower crowns and go door-to-door singing traditional songs about the arrival of spring.
Similarly in Hawaii, lush flower lei are made and exchanged on May Day in the islands’ biggest celebration of the year.
The old English tradition of hanging cone-shaped May baskets on neighbors’ doors is also still practiced, with families rushing out to leave the anonymous flower-filled gifts.
3. Morris Dancing
May Day in Europe wouldn’t be complete without the sight and sounds of morris dancers.
These lively folk dance troupes don elaborate costumes with jingling bells and flower-decorated hats as they energetically step and clap to accordion and fiddle music.
Morris dancing originated in 15th century England as a spring fertility ritual to encourage crop growth.
4. May Day Fairs
From modest village greens to big city parks, bustling outdoor fairs pop up each May Day across the UK.
Visit one and you’ll find lively maypole and morris dancing, crowning ceremonies for the May Queen and her court, carnival rides and games, and delicious street food like apple fritters and sausages.
It’s the unofficial kickoff to spring after the dreary winter months.
5. Wishing Trees
The Scandinavian countries have a lovely tradition of decorating “wishing trees” on May 1st.
Typically these are small, ornamental trees branches or bushes that are painstakingly decorated with hundreds of bright ribbons, eggs, feathers, and handwritten wish notes.
Families walk through parks and gardens, tying wishes onto the whimsical trees in hopes they’ll be granted.
6. Beltane Fires
While most May Day celebrations honor spring’s lush greening, the roots of the holiday actually trace back to the pagan festival of Beltane marking the midpoint between spring and summer.
Ancient Celts welcomed the fertile season by lighting huge bonfires, dancing clockwise around them, and driving livestock between two fires for purification and protection.
This Celtic fire festival is still observed today by neo-pagans and wiccans.
Whatever you choose – dancing around a maypole, making a beautiful flower basket, or celebrating more quietly by tying a wish to a tree, taking part in these May Day rituals connects you to an ancient cycle of rebirth, growth, and humanity’s enduring hope for abundance.
Step outside, soak in the fragrant spring air, and revel in the magic of this exuberant season.
