May Day

May is named for Miai, the Goddess of Increase. The first of March was the beginning of spring and by first of May (late spring) most plants had started growing. Starting the first of May there was a five day celebration because all the life returning to the earth. The people would put a large pole sticking up from the ground and young virgins would dance around it holding ribbons. The pole would become sheathed in ribbons .Even today, there are May Day celebrations with the dance around the May pole mostly done by children. In many countries, May 1, is also the Labor day observance.