The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1912-04-26


lean war. TO be sure, It IS not the custom Of the
nation to indulge In spectacular observances OF
Dewey Day. but there Is general display OF
the dag on residences and public buildings i'd
honor Of the occasion and it IS favorite occasion
for banquets and speech-making
To 60 at once to the other extreme in cata-
loguing the functions Of May Day It may be noted
that May Day Is also moving day" meaning the
date on which expire most leases Of residential
property and when. in consequence, there is a
general fitting to and fro Of the folk who live In
rented houses and In apartments or fats In
some communities April is more generally OBJ
served as moving day" than Is May /, but ID
most sections of the country the later date la
preferred In more recent years, too custom has
given October / some significance as moving
day, but for the great majority Of our people who
move only once year, at most, May still has
the call as g fixed festival for the shifting of
household shrines
May Day ID date marked for It's own by Of.
ganized labor not only In the United States but
pretty much throughout the civilized world. In
many cities there are on this day each year
monster parades Of the union labor organizations,
and it has long been accepted as the most auspi-s
cious occasion for inaugurating great general
strikes In the various trades Some May DAYS
nave been rendered memorable by riotous dis
turbances, but during the past few years the OBJ
servance Of the holiday bias, for the most part,
passed on quietly.
to be looked forward to-. There are May-nole
dances and frolics Of various kinds In the parks
II the weather permits and these are SO ORGANIZED
as to enlist the participation Of the kindergart-
eners and the smallest children as well as the
older ones. When weather or other condifinns
prevent the festivities in the open air, special
exercises are held in the school rooms In short.
May Day is for the whole body of American young
people an occasion Of relaxation and iollify mt
Ior AZ that there are SO many frolics. dancing.
parties and social gatherings on the date there d
one discordant note in the dearth Of weddings
May 1, and indeed, every day In MAY. would seen,
20 be ideal for weddings, but the old superstition
that May marriages are unlucky restricts ma
number OF brides on May Day and on the thirty
days that follow.
May Day, although not always, OF course, known
py that name s one OF the Oldest HOLIDAYS on the
calendar. In the church calendar the arst 81
May IL the combined day Of ST Philip the Apostle
and st James the Less but the festivities which
mark the day In Great Britain, France. Germany
and other countries are what may be termed the
airect descendants Of the ancient Roman Floralia
and the Druidic feasts in honor OF the god BEL
the Baal Of the Scriptures. Indeed, the ORIGIN az
the holiday seems to date still farther back III
me history Of India and Egypt, and ID both 81
those ancient countries the May-poie was d recog-
nized and conspicuous emblem
History relates that the Druids ceIehrafa5 tba
arst Of May by lighting immense Ares III honor
of this deity and It Il interesting TO note that
this same custom (for all that 1T has lost its "a
lsious signifcance1 ID vet followed by the irish
and the Scotch Highlanders. Among these rem.
nanss Of the Celtic stock the festival is to this
Gay referred to as Beltine or Esaltaine mean
ing. literally the day OF Bells fire. There are
other reminders Of the ancient May Day rites vet
g pe observed IN certain portions of ireland and
scotland, but these have lapsed to a certain ex-
tent with the advance Of time and the invasion
of new population and the curious person who
would behold the observance Of the traditions
81 MAY Day IN all It's pristine glory must pene-
4 let IN the Highlands M
Where the old customs vet obtain all the youths
Fl township or village meet on May Day On
the nearest moor. a round table or altar il cut
a re green sod and the entire company station
themselves IN trench which IL formed around
che table. A Are Is kindled and 4 custard IRE
pared Of eggs and milk = huge cake Of oatmeal
being meanwhile kneaded and baked on the en-.
bers. The custard Is eaten but the cake ID merely
divided into 90 many pieces as there are persons
~ the company and these pieces are all thrown