Let Us Celebrate May Day

From Maypoles to Celebrations to Various Rallies, How Will You Celebrate Today?

The worldwide celebration of May Day really began last night, April 30th. However, the celebrations will continue through today and even through next weekend. May Day is a day of celebration by many customs and even some religions. Various Pagan and Wiccan groups celebrate May Day as Beltane, which is the welcoming of summer. Most Pagans and Wiccans see Beltane as the second most important day of the year; Samhain, or Halloween to many, is set as number one since it is the beginning of the new year for their culture.

So what is Beltane? Beltane is about honoring life and basically starts the sun's full release from the bondage of winter. Pagans and Wiccans see Beltane as the direct opposite of Samhain, but there is one thing in common; the veils between the two worlds are the thinnest during both times of the year. To them, this is when the two worlds intermingle and magick can be found all around.

May Day may be celebrated in many ways across the globe. Pagans and Wiccans have their own celebrations, such as the Celtic celebration at Calton Hill in Edinburgh, Scotland. The annual festival begins on May's Eve and attracts approximately 12,000 people. This year's festival was the 20th year for the celebration and it kicked off at 9 P.M last night. According to the Edinburgh Evening News site, "the festival sees semi-clad dancers with burning torches take to the hill and hold an elaborate procession led by the May Queen and the Green Man lasting nearly three hours."

May Day is not solely a Pagan celebration though. Some Roman Catholics celebrate May Day as Mary's month. Some churches that celebrate will adorn the Virgin Mary's head with flowers. Some of the older May Day traditions of the church was to also give a May Day basket filled with candy and flowers.