Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1912-05-08

lean war. To be sure, it Is not the custom of the
nation to indulge in spectacular obseryances OF
Dewey Day" but there is a general display OF
the flag on residences and public buildings in
honor of the occasion and II is favorite occasion
for banquets and speech-making
To go at once to the other extreme in cata
loguing the functions OF May Day It may be noted
mat 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 l. but in
most sections Of the country the later date IL
preferred. In more recent years, too, custom has
gwen october some significance as a moving
day, but for the great majority Of our people who
move only once year, at most May still has
the call as fixed festival for the shifting Of
household shrines
May Day Is date marked for its own by or.
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 1t has long been accepted as the most auspi.
cious occasion for inaugurating great general
strikes IN the various trades Some Nav DAYS
have been rendered memorable by riotous dis
turbances, but during the past few years the OBJ.
serYance OF the holiday has. for the most part,
passed of quietly
To all American children May Day is an event
TO be looked forward to. There are May-pole
dances and frolics Of various kinds in the parks
If the weather permits and these are so organized
| as to enlist the participation of the kindergart
! eners and the smallest children as well "a tha
| older ones. When weather or other conditions
| prevent the festivities in the open air snaciaI
! exercises are held in the school rooms In short
! May Day is for the whole body Of American voung
! people an occasion Of relaxation and jollity. but
! for all that there are so many frolics. dancing
parties and social gatherings on the date there "a
one discordant note in the dearth of weddings.
! May l, and indeed, every day in May. would seer
to be ideal for weddings, but the old superstition
that May marriages are unlucky restricts the
number OF brides on May Day and on the tbirt,,
days that follow.
May Day, although not always, of course, known
| by that name is of the Oldest HOLIDAYS on 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 are what may be termed the
direct descendants Of the ancient Roman Floralia
and the Druidic 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 Maypole was a reoog.
nized and conspicuous emblem
History relates that the Druids celebrated the
first of May by lighting immense fires in honor
OF this deity, and it is interesting to note that
this same custom (for all that it has lost its re-
Hgious signifcance) is yet followed by the Irish
and the Scotch Highlanders. Among these rem
nants of the Celtic stock the festival is to this
day referred to as Beltine or Bealtaine-mean
Ing, literally, the day Of Bells fire." There are
other reminders of the ancient May Day rites vet
to be 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
OF May Day in all its pristine glory must pene
trate nowadays to some remote or isolated ham
let in the Highlands.
Where the old customs yet obtain all the youths
OF township or village meet on May Day OF
the nearest moor. A round table or altar ia GU
in the green sod and the entire company station
themselves in trench which is formed around
the table. fire Is kindled and custard pre
' pared of eggs and milk, huge cake of oatmea
/ being meanwhile kneaded and baked on the EN-
bers The custard is eaten but the cake is merely
I divided into as many pieces as there are persons
in the company and these pieces are all thrown