Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-04-30
WHO OWNS MAY DAY?
Radicals and Policemen Are Now
Crowdina the Poets and
Morris Dancers In the
Celebration
FORMERLY poets we're among the

FORMERLY poets were among the
L chief celebrants of May Day. Now
the police also take hand.
The effect is indeed curious. Here
is festival, its roots in Arcadian an
tiquity, which for centuries was prl-
marily associated with the awakening
Of spring, the glad reaffirmation of the
benign and fertile forces Of nature.
A century ago Nav poles, May dances.
May revels were still common in Eng.
land and other European countries and
had survived to some extent in Amer
lea. Today in numerous parts of Con
tinental Europe. and notably III Paris,
the public braces itself for a shock.
The radicals. who have announced,
as they annually do, that it is coming.
do not necessarily frown on the innocent
festivities of yore. The ban is not so
much on mirth as on the functioning Of
certain alleged concomitants of criliza-
ton.
Without them. smiling becomes
particularly stringent test of good ma
ture and instructive high spirits. The
French, for instance, have promised a
general strike for tomorrow, May Day.
Even IL the performance is incomplete,
as is so often the case, the mood OF rev.
elry is assuredly shadowed.
THE fact is the May Day is really
L two days in one. The older observ-
ance dates back to rites offered to Maia,
the Roman goddess, said to have been
worshiped as the principle and cause
Of fertility. Later Flora. also fer
tility deity. the successor Of Maia. was
honored with popular fcasts. with
games. dances. dramatic performances.
Christianity adjusted itself to the
custom. Flora was, Of course. rejected
as pagan, but May Day remained en-.
livening, cheer begetting. In medieval
times an important feature consisted Of
nocturnal expedition to the woods,
where branches were gathered. brought
home and attached to the household
doors. Lovers sometimes .honored the
abodes Of the fair ones in this way and
verse makers celebrated the practice.
bringing in the May" is a taking
phrase Of which the meaning has be-
come hazy. 1t was not so in Merry
England when the young men of the
villages fetched from the forests the
tallest aud straightest trees that could
be procured. stripped them of branches
adorned them with garlands and bright
ribbons. painted the pole" with gay
stripes and established them as foci fol
ound games, dances and fun making.
Customs similar to those of tn,
Anglo American May Day prevail in
many lands The Russians have @
pring festival. celebrated by children
with a choral dance called Khorovod
The Holi festival is the East Indian oh.
SprvaucC. 1t assumes. as did the early
Roman celebrations. n somewhat crotio
character.
What is left of the antique May Da!
in our own country is evidenced prn
cipally in conscious attempts TO be in
genuouS. The effort is entirely harm
less. but it is rather keen test o
public self consciousness.
Granted poetic climate in this vi
cinity it would. however. be easier t.
share sincerely the poets enthusiasm
There are even cynics capable of main
tanning that the gush has been laid OF
rather thick. Witness how Tennyson
I'm to BE Queen Of the May. Mother,
has lent itself to abundance of dcliciou
parodies.