MAY DAY By Maria Angeles Zaragoza

and Ana María Arias

The origin of the May Day

• May Day has a pagan connection.

• Marks the end of winter.

• The Celts made a festival called Beltane.

• The Romans had a festival too, it was Floralia.

The tradition of Maypole• Every English

village had a Maypole.

• Trees have always been the symbol of vitality and fertility of nature.

• People celebrate May Day by dancing and singing around the Maypole.

The tradition of Maypole

Interesting facts

• The tallest maypole is said to have been erected in london in 1161.

• 143 feet = 43.50 metres

May Queen• Also part of the

celebration was the crowning of a May Queen.

• She was chosen among the pretty girls of the village.

Facewashing in May Dew

• May Day Dew had the power to restore beauty.

• Girls used to nurture a belief...

May Day and flowers

During May Day people:

• Collect flowers• Decorate their

homes• play games, sing

and dance• Dance around a

Maypole • Morris dance

Morris Dance

• There are several teories about its origins.

The name may come to Englandfrom the moors of North Africabecause the dancers sometimes painted their faces black.

Morris Dance

• The dancing is accompanied by an accordeon player and a melodeon or fiddle player.

Dancers wear different clothes depending on the part of the country in which they dance.

Morris Dance

• There are 6 or 8 dancers arranged in two lines or in a circle facing each other.

• They carry white handkerchiefs or short sticks.

• Some dancers have bell-pads tied at their knees.

May Day today• In some places in

England, may day celebrations still begin at sunset on 30 April.

• In Charlton-on-Otmoor (Oxford),May Day is held involving all the children from the Primary School.

May Day today• In London, May Day

is celebrated on May 1st, Today they also celebrate Labor Day. It Takes place on the Bank Holiday weekend. In London many different activities and attractions are rganized for the whole family in the parks

May Day around the world

• In Hawai, they call it Lei Day.

• In France, the cows are led in parades with many flowers attached to their tails.

In Germany, the boys secretely plant a May tree in front of the window of the girl they love.

¡¡¡HAPPY MAY DAY!!!