The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1912-04-27

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
,he nag on residences and public buildings in
honor or the occasion and it Is favorite occasion
Tor banquets and speech-making
10 go at once to the other extreme in cata
iosung the functions Of May Day it may be noted
that May Day Is also moving day." meaning the
oate on which expire most leases of residential
property and when, in consequence tbera ia q
general fitting to and fro of the folk who live IN
rented houses and in apartments or flats In
SUMO communities April 1 is more generally oh
served as moving day" than is May 1, but in
most sections of the country the later date ia
preferred In more recent years. too custom has
gwen october 1 some significance as a moving
oay out Tor the great majority of our people who
move only once year, at most, May 1 still has
inc call as fixed festival for the shifting If
household shrines -
May Day Is a date marked for its own nv or.
canned labor not only In the United States. but
pretty much throughout the civilized 1yor1d ~
many cities there are on this day each veor
monster parades Of the union labor ORGANIZATIONS .
ana II mas long been accepted as the most auanj
sous occasion Tor 1naugurating great general
striKes IN the various trades. Some Nav Dava
nave been rendered memorable bv rioton. a.
turDances but during the past few years the oh
servance of the holiday has, for the most nor+
passed off quietly p"'''
10 all American children May Day is an even+
10 be looked forward to. There ara M.1no1
dances and frolics of various kinds in tho nar,-
IL tne weather permits and these are so orpanizod
as to enlist the participation of the kindarnout
eners and the smallest children as we'll 40 ~
ouei ones When weather other conditions
prevent the festivities in the open air sni1
exercises are held in the school rooms t. 1890
May Day Is for the whole body of American VOW,
people an occasion of relaxation and io11i+ I9
~ al 'na' tnere are SO many frolics dancing
parties ana soclal gatherings the date, there "a
Ofn in
May l, and indeed, every day in Nav would .eN
TO De Ideal for weddings, but the old s,1ners+iti
mat May marriages are unlucky restricts tho
number OF brides on May Day and on tho th,r4s
days that follow. 0 'niiV
May Day, although not always Of course kro1u,
oy that name Is one of the Oldest HOLIDAYS m 49,
calendar. In the church calendar tho eu.t ~
May IS the combined day of St. Philip the Anos+1a
ana st. James the Less, but the festivities wbioh
marx the day IN Great Britain, France, Germany
So u o'ner countries are what may be termed the
ulrect descendants of the ancient Roman E1or.I
and the Drufdic feasts in honor Of tho ood o.
.ne 6aai OF the Scriptures Indeed the origin NJ
the holiday seems to date still farther hooL ~
Tn Inc history OF India and Egypt, and in both ~
eaose ancient countries the May-pole was a recor
nlzed and conspicuous emblem
History relates that the Drlids ce1ohro+.a .x
nrst OF May by lighting immense fires IN h,ror
vi ILLS deity, and 1t Is interesting to note +bo+
this same custom (for all that it has lost T.. ra
e'us sisnlncance) 10 yet followed by the Irish
and the Scotch Highlanders Among tba.a 49,.
nants of the Celtic stock the festival is to Thu.
aay referred to as Beltine or Bealtaine- mean.
ing. literally. the day OF Bells fire." There are
otner reminders OF the ancient May Day rites vet
10 De observed In certain portions of Ireland ana
scotland, but these have lapsed to a certain az.
tent with the advance of time and the invasion
Oh new population and the, curious person who
~ouio penold the observance Of the tradition.
OF May Day In all its pristine glory must nena-
", uste nowadays to some remote or isolated ham
"nere the old customs yet obtain all tho vo,th.
OF township or village meet on Nav NJ =.
tne nearest moor. round table or altar "a cnt
IN the green sod and the entire company station
.n en.seives IN trench which is formed around
pared OF eggs and milk, huge cake Of oatmasl
being meanwhile kneaded and baked on tho am.
oers 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