May Day, the first of May, A time for celebration and play, As springtime blossoms come to stay, And nature shows her vibrant array. The sun shines bright, the sky is blue, The world awakens, fresh and new, With birdsong ringing loud and true, A symphony of life to imbue. From ancient times, this day has been, A day of joy and dancing seen, When people gather, hearts careen, And all the world feels like a dream. Maypole standing tall and proud, Ribbons streaming, colours loud, Dancers circle, cheer aloud, Their spirits lifted, free unbound. Oh, May Day, how sweet the sound, Of laughter ringing all around, As people revel, merriment found, And love and life together abound. So let us join in, hand in hand, Across the meadows, through the land, And feel the joy of life expand, As we celebrate May Day grand.
Around here, we describe the first day of May as “High Spring”. As it happens, on May 1st, the Earth has 1 foot clearly in late spring and 1 foot clearly in early summer. That's why we refer to it as High Spring. It is, in fact, the first day of summer. Although, judging by the cold and rain here, in Northern California, you wouldn't suspect so.
In today's podcast, Shiloh and I discuss what's happening at the Musea Center here in Sonoma, California, so far as it is, in fact, a plot of farmable land. We host a wide and far-reaching range of beautiful things to eat, smell, and observe. It's fascinating that on an almost daily basis, new things leap from the ground, the dark earth, from when they came, waiting, perhaps all year, for this one moment to gather their strength, and push into the light and fulfill what does theirs to do and to become and to be.
Beltane, also known as May Day or May Eve, is a traditional Celtic and Gaelic festival that marks the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. It is celebrated on the night of April 30th or the morning of May 1st.
In ancient times, Beltane was a time of great celebration, marking the return of warmer weather and the fertility of the land. It was believed that the veil between the mortal world and the spiritual world was thin on this night, allowing the faeries and other supernatural beings to cross over into the human realm.
Today, Beltane is still celebrated in many parts of the world, often with bonfires, dancing, and other rituals symbolizing the renewal of life and the start of the growing season. It is also a time to honor the sacred union of the god and goddess and to celebrate love, fertility, and abundance.
In the poem above, you'll notice that the May Pole is mentioned in several instances. If you have spent any time around Waldorf Education or looked into Biodynamic farming, you will see that the May Pole has ancient Celtic roots that are still celebrated until this day.
A Maypole is a tall pole, traditionally made of wood, that is decorated with ribbons, flowers, and other adornments and erected in the center of a village or town square to celebrate May Day. The Maypole is an ancient tradition that dates back to pre-Christian times and was an important part of the pagan festivals celebrating the arrival of spring.
In many cultures, the Maypole is seen as a symbol of fertility and renewal, representing the life force that emerges after the long, dark winter. The tradition of dancing around the Maypole is thought to have originated as a way of symbolizing the union of the male and female energies that are necessary for new life to emerge.
In some places, the Maypole is still celebrated as a cultural event, with people dancing and singing around the pole. In other places, the tradition has been lost over time. However, the Maypole remains a powerful symbol of springtime and renewal and continues to inspire people to celebrate the coming of warmer weather and the promise of new beginnings.
Now, that sounds like alchemy and well… a really good time!
If you can, NOW is that time. Come to Musea, and let’s get dirty, really dirty.
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