The Red Cloud chief., 1912-04-25


lean war To be sure it Is not the custom Of the
nation to indulge in spectacular observances OF
Dewey Day" but there is a general display OF
the aag on residences and public buildings in
honor Of the occasion and It is favorite occasion
Tor banQuets and speech.makng.
To 60 at once to the other extreme in cata.
ioguing the functions Of May Day 1t may be noted
that May Day is also moving day." meaning the
GATE 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 flats. In
some communities April 1 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
given October 1 some significance as a moving
day. but for the great majority Of our people who
move only once year. at most May 1 still has
the call as fixed festival for the shifting Of
household shrines.
May Day is date marked for its own BY or.
eanized 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.
cious occasion for inaugurating great general
strikes In the various trades. Some MAY Days
have been rendered memorable by riotous die.
turbances but during the past few years the oh.
servance 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
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 or other conditions
prevent the festivities in the open air. special
exercises held in the school rooms In short
May Day is for the whole body Of American young
people an occasion Of relaxation and joity but
Tor all that there are SO many frolics, dancing
parties and social gatherings on the date. there "a
OtSCOfdaNt no ~
May I. 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 on May Day and on the thirty
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 recog.
ni1ed and conspicuous emblem.
History relates that the Druids celebrated tho
hrst Of May by lighting immense fires in honor
OF this deity. and It Is interesting to note that
this same custom (for all that II has lost its re.
ligious signihcance) 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 hre" There are
other reminders Of the ancient May Day rites yet
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 a 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. a-
Where the old customs yet obtain all the youths
Of q township or village meet on May Day on
the nearest moor A round table or altar 10 cut
In the green sod and the entire company station
themselves in a trench which is formed around
the table. A hre 10 kindled and q custard pre-
pared Of eggs and milk. huge cake Of oatmeal
being meanwhile kneaded and baked on the EN-.
bers The custard 10 eaten but the cake 10 merely
divided into as many pieces 40 there are per sons
in the company and these pieces are all thrown