May Day! May Day!

 No, we don't have an emergency on our little ship or in our little airplane...in fact, no emergency at all...it's just that today is the first day of May! And I don't know where you came from, if you ever celebrated "May Day", but I do remember it in elementary school.  We would go out on the playground and there was a big pole with long ribbons attached, and we each held a ribbon and we walked around the "Maypole" and sang songs.  I don't remember what songs we sang, but I do remember the activity and it is stuck in my memory banks.

Here's a video I found online of a group of 4th graders doing this.  

"O, bring all the little children

With May flowers in their hair

For, they shall dance

Around the maypole

For, they shall dance

The May day away"

Poem written by Athey Thompson

May Day celebrations

Here's a description according to AI:

"Children dancing around a Maypole is a traditional May Day (May 1st) folk custom, particularly in Britain and Europe, celebrating spring and fertility. Participants, often school children, hold ribbons attached to a tall, decorated pole and weave them into a braid through intricate dance patterns, symbolizing growth and unity. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Key aspects of the Maypole tradition include:
Symbolism: The pole represents a tree, symbolizing the arrival of spring, nature's bounty, and the fertility of the land.

The Dance: Children typically skip clockwise or in alternating directions, weaving ribbons over and under one another to form a complex braided pattern on the pole.

Origins: The custom has roots in ancient European pre-Christian, Greek, and Roman fertility rituals, later becoming a popular fixture in village fetes and schools.

Modern Celebrations: Often held at schools or community fairs, the celebration may include crowning a May Queen, gathering wildflowers, and dancing, such as those described by or in. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]"

I never connected this little activity with anything "pagan" or having anything to do with "fertility", but only a happy and fun elementary school activity that lingers still in my memory.  I truly doubt our music teacher had anything ritualistic in mind either. It was just a fun way to celebrate the beginning May!

My mother remembered making little "May Day" flower baskets and taking them around and leaving them on their neighbor's doors. I don't think we ever did that, mainly because where we lived when I was growing up there were no close neighbors. Still, it sounds like a sweet little tradition that would be a blessing to others who receive the baskets of flowers, so it seems like it would be a nice thing to do.

Do you have any particular memories of "May Day" from your childhood?  I would love to hear about them.

Today I did a little special "May Day" activity. One of our dear church members, Opal,  (our former pianist), has been in a Rehab Center for quite a while, recuperating from a very serious case of pneumonia (and other issues).  Today is her birthday, and so hubby and I went to visit her and took a little bag of some fun things to help her celebrate.

I found the cute little flowered headband and lei at The Dollar Tree, as well as one of those balloons.

The beautiful roses are from her husband.

I also included a Reese's Peanut Butter cup and some chapstick and hand lotion, and some other hair bands as she has long hair and often the caregivers there will braid it for her.  

Her hubby was there to visit as well.  

We had a happy visit, and she is looking forward to coming home fairly soon, as they say that finally all the pneumonia is gone and she is doing physical therapy and getting stronger  every day.  I sure hope she will be home soon. We really miss her at church.  I don't think she will ever be able to play the piano again because she also had a stroke last year, and that has affected her hand dexterity, but she can still sing beautifully and hopefully she will be able to come back to the choir again, maybe in the fall when we start back up after our summer break. We will continue to pray for Opal to get better day by day.

So now, what else do we do on the first day of May?  Well, we have the May Calendar Roll Call, of course! I know you've been waiting all day for this! So without further adieu, here we go:

Well, except for the part about the "rain is over and gone", I like this quote from King Solomon. It seems as if he is right about the rain being over and gone...quite some time ago...but we are SUPPOSED to get some good rain tomorrow. We were supposed to get rain today and Sunday too, but now it just says Saturday...so time will tell. I don't believe it until I see it and feel the raindrops falling on my head.

I do try to remember the birds and bees and butterflies too!! Hopefully my wildflower garden patch will attract them all!

Speaking of Butterflies...

(quote above from Billy Graham refers to Romans 1:18-20)

18 "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 

19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse"

Hebrews 1:10

And this  Thomas Kinkade calendar seems to follow along the same theme...

"Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands."  Hebrews 1:10

And this verse tells us further that God has created all things, and for HIS pleasure they are and were created! (Revelation 4:11)

I do love all the beautiful things that God has created...don't you? This would be one example of a lovely place that God has created that I know I could certainly enjoy...

After rowing around in that boat and enjoying that fresh mountain air, I would love to be welcomed inside for a cup of hot tea...yes, just like how this describes it...

Sounds pretty good to me!

And  last but not least, the John Sloane Country Seasons Calendar is always a favorite...this dear lady is hanging out all of her quilts to air out after a long winter's use.  Please note the kitty cat in this picture...

That looks a lot like our Sunshine did...such a sweet kitty who is now enjoying the pure air of kitty heaven.  

Well,while I was sitting here typing a little bit of rain rolled in, and I actually went outside and felt the raindrops on my head!

Speaking of kitty cats, please say a little prayer for our Blackie. Lately he has been extremely itchy to the point of pulling out plugs of fur from his legs and belly. (You can see his little bare belly below) The flea collar hasn't helped one bit, and it may have gotten worse since I changed it a couple of weeks ago, so I called the Vet to see if we can bring him in for an examination. He is also due for his annual rabies shot. So he has an appointment on Monday. He's never been to a Vet before, except for when he was neutered...so this will be an experience for all of us...getting him there and back, etc.  So you might say a little prayer for me too! 

Thank you!

Hope you have had a blessed and beautiful "May Day".