### Clue: This springtime festival is a cry for help (6)
### Answer: MAYDAY 
 ### Explanation: Definition: cry for help
  MAY DAY(1st day of May, traditionally (since 13C) a *festival*,celebration of the coming of *spring* (northern hemisphere of course), but in 20C replaced by celebrations in honour of workers, hence the alternate Labour Day.  Defn:  International radio communications distress signal used by ships and aircraft.  From shortening of the French "venez m'aider": "come *help *me!"