The joy of May Day to you!
Actually, this was prompted by Tradgardmastare's post earlier today. It seems rare that May 1st falls on a Monday, so the actual traditional holiday falls on the official holiday here in the UK for once. Other countries in Europe seem to celebrate it whichever day of the week it falls on.
Since the decline of trade unions in the late 20th century, May Day doesn't seem to be much of a 'thing' here. When my parents were at school (1930s and 40s) there was an attempt to revive old English customs like dancing round the May Pole, but it's rare now.
It's still a pretty big thing over in the Margravina's homeland, where it is a blend of old and 'new' customs. There is the very old pagan Spring festival, the more modern Labour Day aspects and student day celebrations. My first introduction to it was in a pub in Rotherhithe 20 years ago. Six of us (3 Anglo/Kiwi blokes and their Finnish partners) heard about the 'Vappu' (May Day) party in Rotherhithe held by Finnish ex-pats. It all seemed very quiet and dull when we arrived, with us 6 (relatively young) and a few respectable looking family groups. We concluded that we would 'give it one more round of drinks' before heading for the bright lights. Then someone seemed to have lit the blue touch paper. All of a sudden everyone was up and singing along to karaoke amidst lots of raucous laughter. I came back from the loo to see the M. of P....... leaping from table to table grabbing balloons from the ceiling. Her sense of balance, even when in her cups, is something that has always impressed me!
Further Reading and Music:
Here's a pretty good description of Vappu from a Czech perspective.
https://www.mysalmiakkilife.fi/hyvaa-vappua/
Finally, here is something appropriate to get your foot tapping or even have you swirling your significant other around the kitchen table. See if you can spot the Letkajenkka.
We don't celebrate May Day at all here but we do still have a Labour Day public holiday in October ( the third Monday I am pretty sure)
ReplyDeleteI note your reference to Anglo/Kiwi....have you some relationship to Aotearoa? Or was that just one of the three blokes?
Is Labour Day in October because that’s when Spring is down under?
DeleteOne of the blokes is from NZ. 1 of 3 Kiwis out of 12 people in my language class. All 3 had Finnish other halfs, so that must say something about the two nationalities!
Chris
In the US, Labor Day is in September.
DeleteInteresting why it’s at such a different time of year.
DeleteChris
Mayday greeting to you too old fruit. Watched the video but didn’t spot the letkajenkka which French wikepedia says is folk music played on an unusual instrument? Maybe I’ve got the wrong end of the stick as per bloody usual? Maydays a big thing here in France too. We had two neighbours come round early doors with bunches of Lilly of the valley - which is associated with the holiday for some reason. Chased em off with the shotgun for their temerity…
ReplyDeleteNot.
Too bloody right you sent the blighter off - trying to give you hayfever!
DeleteAlmost right on the Letkajenkka. It’s a jenkka played with modern instruments in the early 60s, but also a dance where you form a line like in a conga but you do kicks to the side and hops forward and back. Even I can do it. “Such fun!”https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letkajenkka
I remember dancing around the Maypole as a very young lad, or watching it happen, but it was a rather long time ago, so can't be sure! To me it always seems to be more of a thing in Europe than here these days and it will be interesting to see what the Russians do for their May Day Parade this year, given all that's going on in the Ukraine...
ReplyDeleteYou must be older than I thought then Steve 😉.
DeleteChris
Enjoyed your description of the vappu and the written one too. The music was a most enjoyable way to start the day this morning over coffee.
ReplyDeleteAlan Tradgardland
Thought you might enjoy it Alan. It gives you a good sense of how cold it is in ‘Spring’.
DeleteChris
As Jon notes, Labor is celebrated on the first Monday of September in the US. May Day is a non thing in the US; if it is thought of at all, it is as a celebration of Spring.
ReplyDeleteThanks Peter.
DeleteChris