‘April showers bring May flowers’ - a statement that brings hope to all as they look through the lashings of rain, into the distance where tiny explosions of colour are beginning to form on the sodden grass. May Day marks the beginning of summer, and traditionally is a day of gathering flowers and welcoming in the sun. Although it is becoming increasingly less popular amongst city dwellers in recent years, it actually is said to have originated during the Roman Republic era, and was named Floralia, after the goddess of flowers Flora. The day included theatrical performances and the celebration of all wildlife - hares and goats were released into the crowds, people pelted each other with vegetation and grain. A ritual was performed annually, which consisted of presenting ears of wheat to a shrine of either Flora or Ceres. Although it was hosted on a different day in May, it is thought that some of the May Day traditions did originate from this ancient festival - but not the sacrifice !!

Although many other cultures have similar May Day traditions, some slightly more recent ones are from the Roman Catholics in the 19th Century, yet these are more focused around Mary. Traditionally, the head of Mary will be adorned with flowers to represent the coming of Spring as she is crowned the “Queen of May” . May 1st is also a day dedicated to St Joseph, Mary’s husband and Jesus’s foster father.

May Day in England is no longer considered a bank holiday, unless it happens to fall on a Monday. However, for hundreds of years people have been celebrating this day with singing and dancing. Although in Puritan times the holiday was banned, it made a strong comeback after Charles II was reinstated. Different places in England have different traditions for this day : at 6am in Oxford, people meet at the Magdalen College to listen to the quire, before jumping into the river - which is now strictly forbidden due to injury.  In Durham, residents enjoy watching the sunrise and Somerset have begun to host large, traditional festivities on this day.

Ultimately, this day, although it is not officially considered a holiday, is a day symbolic of new beginnings in Spring. Although many towns and cities no longer crown a May Day Queen or dance around a maypole, it still remains a significant day for many modern, and ancient, cultures.