May 1 is the traditional day to crown the May queen, dance around the maypole, perform mummers' plays, and generally celebrate the return of spring. Although our Pilgrim fathers were horrified by these reminders of a pagan past and outlawed all such activities, the maypole dance remains an enduring event. In England, a favorite branch is hawthorn. In Scotland and Wales, people choose the rowan, or mountain ash. In the United States, we often select forsythia, lilac, or pussy willow branches to bring spring and the prospect of new life into our homes.
Information is drawn from the library of The Old Farmer's Almanac.
Yankee Publishing Inc. All rights reserved.