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May Day blessings!
A standing ovation to a new generation of libertarians who are reclaiming for Liberty the celebration of May Day! Freeman, Libertarian Critter (http://freemanlc.blogspot.com/2006/05/may-day-post_114653764837882023.html) writes:
"Today is May 1st, otherwise known as May Day, a day of international labor solidarity. Contrary to the efforts of some to paint the day as a 'commie holiday' in support of the USSR and other 'communist' countries, the real roots of the holiday predate the horrors of 20th century statist collectivism."
Indeed! And as Eugene Plawiuk writes (http://plawiuk.blogspot.com/2006/05/origins-and-traditions-of-may-day.html), this celebration long predates the modern labour movement, May Day has indeed been a celebration of life and renewal, and has always carried an egalitarian and antinomian tone, as celebration of life for life's sake accepts neither restrictions and cuts across the fashion and accident. The celebration of Spring fertility approached universality and perennialism, taking forms as diverse as our Easter and the Thai Songkran- which, incidentally, is celebrated celebrated by everybody going out and throwing buckets of water and smearing flower at any random catchable passers-by.
From Sheffield Mayday, here are "13 Facts About May Day":
1. May Day is Beltane, which means 'day of fire'. It is an ancient Pagan festival. Bel was the Celtic God of the sun.
2. May Day marks the seasonal transition from Winter to Summer and celebrated the first spring planting.
3. Putting a Maypole up involved taking a growing tree from the wood and bringing it to the village to mark the coming of Summer. Single men and women would dance around the Maypole holding on to ribbons until they became entwined with their (hoped for) new loves.
4. Social hierarchy was set aside on May Day to involve everyone from the highest to the lowest.
5. May Day is a celebration of fertility. In the old days whole villages would go to the woods and all sorts of temporary sexual liaisons would take place.
6. Robin Goodfellow, also known as the Green Man was the Lord of Misrule on May Day. He and his supporters would make jokes and poke fun at the local authorities.
7. Parliament banned May Day festivities in 1644.
8. Unlike Easter, Whitsun, or Christmas, May Day is the one festival of the year with no significant church service.
9. In previous centuries working people would take the day off to celebrate, often without the support of their employer.
10. William Davidson, a black trade unionist and a revolutionary, was executed on May Day 1820. Davidson was born in the then pirate capital, Kingston, Jamaica and put a skull and crossbones on a black flag to say:“Let us die like men and not be sold like slaves.” He was executed for being part of a conspiracy to kill the entire cabinet, which was hoped to give the spark to a revolution in Britain.
11. May Day is recognized throughout the world as International Workers' Day, or Labour Day. In 1884 US and Canadian trade unions declared that after May 1st 1886, 8 hours would constitute a legal days work.
12. May 1st was declared a holiday by the International Working Men's Association (First International) in Paris in 1889. This was to commemorate the Haymarket Martyrs of 1886: 8 anarchists were wrongly accused of throwing a bomb at police and 4 were executed.
13. The USA and Canada do not recognize May Day. The US government attempted to erase the its history by declaring that May 1st was 'Law Day' instead. They pronounced that Labour Day was to be on the first Monday of September, a date of no significance.
That said, despite point 9, above, Lady Aster will *not* be taking time off from work today. I'm not terribly organised and have never been one for calenders... they make sense for a generalist, but if you're specialised to celebrate one season what's the point? But of course there has to be someone to actually conduct the celebrations. So said, I very much encourage you all to celebrate in classical style. (I will of course be happy to advise and officiate for those unfamiliar with the proper conduct of springtime rituals.)
The merry face of spring
turns to the world,
sharp winter
now flees, vanquished;
bedecked in various colours
Flora reigns,
the harmony of the woods
praises her in song. Ah!
Lying in Flora's lap
Phoebus once more
smiles, now covered
in many-coloured flowers,
Zephyr breathes nectar-
scented breezes.
Let us rush to compete
for love's prize. Ah!
In harp-like tones sings
the sweet nightingale,
with many flowers
the joyous meadows are laughing,
a flock of birds rises up
through the pleasant forests,
the chorus of maidens
already promises a thousand joys. Ah!
(Carmina Burana)
For myself, I'm considering attending a group service in the Bay Area this Saturday. Fortune permitting.
Many Blessings!
May Day, every day!
 
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