A bit about May Celebrations

First, there’s May Day.  Western europeans and the north american generations that

were born from them- celebrate the first of May. It’s an ancient northern hemisphere spring festival that has blurred into an International Workers Day. 

Originally from Pagan tradition it merged with Christian celebration and happily settled as local custom with dancing, dining, acknowledging spring fertility and recognizing the ability to work for a living. In others words, it has become a great excuse for a party. 

My Finnish cousins celebrate with with food and beverage.  The Brits have the May Pole and frolic about. It’s nice out...we all just survived a reluctant spring and now it’s time to have a little fun.

Kids, campfires & fireworks.  May 24 Weekend

Here in Canada we have another May Tradition;  May 24.   It doesn’t always land on the 24th of May... but often does.  Growing up, I had thought it referred to a case of twenty four beer, the beverage consumed at the unofficial start of cottage season. It's actually called Victoria Day but nicknamed May 24. 

Across most of Canada (except the East Coast) Canucks celebrate Victoria Day.  It honours Queen Victoria’s birthday.  May 24, 1819 is Queen Victoria's birth date. The dates don’t always line up, but the celebration does and there are hours of traffic into cottage country.  This year, I’ll already be  in cottage country and my family will join the hordes of others.... inching their way up. It’s tradition and so - it is. 

There will be fireworks. Often you can see the flares from cottage to cottage, luck is when they go off at different times, so you merely have to reposition your chair to get a continuous view. Ah May 24 Weekend....we all open up our cottages, slather on bug repellent and get outdoors. 

Large Cities provide fireworks for the public for those who don’t have the chance to get away.  Every patio is full, parks are teaming with day users and backyards are once again- alive with life.  Its the season kick off, don’t you know!  

May is promising.  Get out there and enjoy it.