Montpelier examiner., 1912-05-03

come OF tne SpanlSnrAnef-
can war To be sure, 1t Is not the custom Of the
aation to indulge In spectacular observances OF
Dewey Day" but there Is a general display OF
he flag on residences and public buildings In
honor OF the occasion and 1t is favorte occasion
or banquets and speech-making.
To go at once to the other extreme in cata.
oguing the functions of May Day 1t may be noted
nat May Day is also moving day." meaning the
late 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
ented houses and in apartments or flats In
some communities April is more generally OBJ
served as moving day" than is May l. but in
most sections Of the country the later date is
preferred In more recent years, too, custom has
siven October l some significance as a moving
iay out for the great majority OF our people who
move only once year, at most. May l still has
he call as fixed festival for the shifting of
household shrines
May Day Is date marked for its own by or
sanized labor not only in the United States but
pretty much throughout the civilized world In
many cities there are this day each year
monster parades of the union labor organizations.
and II mas long been accepted as the most auspi-
sious occasion for inauguratng great general
strikes in the various trades Some May DAYS
have been rendered memorable by riotous dis
turbances but during the past few years the OBJ
servance of the holiday has, for the most part
passed of quietly
To all American children May Day is an event
10 DC looked FORWARD to. There May-pole
dances and frocs 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 we'll as the
older ones When weather other conditions
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 jollity but
for all that there are many frolics dancing
parties and social gatherings on the date there ia
one discordant note In the dearth of weddings
May l. and, indeed, every day In May would seem
to be ideal for weddings. but the old superstition
that May marriages are unlucky restricts the
number of brides May Day and on the thirty
days that follow
May Day, although not always. of course. known
by that name. Is one of the Oldest holidays the
calendar. In the church calendar the first of
May is 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 what may be termed the
direct descendants of the ancient Roman Floralia
and the Drufdic feasts In honor Of the god Bel
the Baal of the Scriptures. Indeed the origin of
the holiday seems to date still farther back in
the history of India and Egypt. and In both of
those ancient countries the May-pole was q recog-
nized and conspicuous emblem.
History relates that the Druds celebrated the
drst of May by lighting immense fires In honor
Of this deity, and 1t is interesting to note that
this same custom (for all that 1t has lost It's re-
and the Scotch Highlanders. Among these rem
nants of the Celtic stock the festival is to this
day referred to Beltne Bealtaine--mean-
Ing, literally the day of Bells fire" There are
other reminders OF the ancient May Day rites yet
TO be observed In certain portions of Ireland and
Scotland. but these have apsed to 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
of May Day in all Its pristine glory must pene-
trate nowadays to some remote or isolated ham
et in the Highlands,
Where the old customs yet obtain all the youths
of a township village meet on May Day on
the nearest moor round table or altar is cut
In the green sod and the entire company station
themselves in a trench which is formed around
the table. A fire is kindled and custard pre-
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 is merely
divided into as many pieces as there are persons
IN the company and these pieces are all thrown