May 1 Is a Day for Honoring Many Things.

[MineralMan]

It is a day commemorated for many things, and nobody has a lock on that day. To declare that it is only for celebrating a single thing is to ignore many traditions. May 1 is not a zero sum occasion.

For example, here's the traditional May Day festivities at Bryn Mawr:



Such celebrations are deeply historical:



Dancing around the Maypole dates back for centuries:

[Laelth]

1. Vomit. n/t

-Laelth

[MineralMan]

2. I'm sorry you're not feeling well.

Thanks for taking the time to reply, despite your upset stomach. I clearly remember making May Baskets for May Day when I was a child. Don't you?

I don't remember any Maypole dance, though, although it's likely such a thing happened at my grammar school.

[Laelth]

15. Well played.

My hat is off to you, but I am sure you know quite well from where my sentiments originate. I object to the fact that this historic, labor-celebrating, and democracy-advocating holiday has been co-opted by the agents of the wealthiest among us.

Thus my nausea.

-Laelth

[SidDithers]

7. Awwww....

Sid

[randome]

14. Jesus, that was incredible!

Can I recommend you for parties and bar mitzvahs?

[geek tragedy]

16. Spinning around the maypole too fast can induce nausea

as well as disorientation and confusion.

[ananda]

3. Very interesting piece of history!

Happy May!

[MineralMan]

4. Thanks. I remember doing something in school about

May Day during my elementary school days. I guess that aspect of it is now forgotten by most people. But it's a traditional thing, for sure.

[MineralMan]

5. Wikipedia has an interesting article on May Day

celebrations like the one I mentioned.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_Day

[loli phabay]

6. thanks for the memory, this is may day for me and the celebration of spring

Only thing that i abhore is morris dancers, never liked them.

[JoePhilly]

8. Blasphemer!!!!

Sorry could not resist.

[loli phabay]

9. im kind of lost on the kerfuffle about maypoles etc. As long as i can remember its been celebrated

And seems a long held tradition. Totally clueless to what is happening here.

[SidDithers]

10. Typical DU shitstorm yesterday...

You see, based on something Congress passed in 1958, something done by almost every President since then, Obama proclaimed May 1 "Loyalty Day".

Predictable sputtering outrage erupted from the outraged-at-everything-Obama-does crowd, which then spun off into 'No you guys, May 1 is International Workers Day. Why does Obama hate American workers?'

Much hilarity ensued.

Sid

[loli phabay]

12. ah. i will stick to the genteel maypole memories then. thanks

[JoePhilly]

11. In recent days ...

DU had a firestorm of folks flipping out because President Obama did something on May 1st that every President has done for about the last 40 or 50 years. He proclaimed it "Loyalty Day".

It was pretty much a non-event, but DU's Obama Outrage community was very upset.

I believe that MineralMan is pointing out May 1st is celebrated for an array of things, including Maypoles.

[loli phabay]

13. maypoles good, arguing over may first bad. thanks i get it now