International Workers' Day...
Pagan festivities...
For me, May is about blossom galore and (from my Catholic upbringing) the praising of
Mary, Queen of the May...
'Bring flowers of the rarest
bring blossoms the fairest,
from garden and woodland and hillside and dale;
our full hearts are swelling,
our glad voices telling
the praise of the loveliest flower of the vale!
O Mary we crown thee with blossoms today!
Queen of the Angels and Queen of the May.
O Mary we crown thee with blossoms today,
Queen of the Angels and Queen of the May.'
This was, by far, my favourite hymn, and was associated with dressing in pretty white dresses, and lovely veils if making your First Holy Communion. There would be a short walk to the church where the statue of the Virgin Mary would be crowned by the lucky little girl to be chosen! We practised genuflecting for weeks beforehand, as this had to be performed without the aid of a bench to hold onto for balance, and was quite tricky...
I also remember the wonderful festivities in the streets of Oxford during our student days.... the choristers from Magdalen College singing from the tower at 5 am overlooking the River Cherwell, and the streets alive with people and celebrations until 9 am.
