May Day--Day of Renewal and Remembrance

Festivities also included bonfires, a tradition that carried over from pagan rituals in honor of the Celtic fire god, Bel (Or Baal as he is referred to in the Bible), and sporting events. Unfortunately, with these celebrations came the drinking of alcoholic beverages, and the mixture of fun, drink, and sports often ended with violent fights.

One of the most revered customs or charms of this holiday was the collection of May Day dew. Young girls and women would wash their faces in the dew collected on May Day, to preserve their beauty. A man who washed his hands in May dew was believed to be blessed with an ability with knots and nets...handy for the Irish fisherfolk.

Miscellaneous tidbits about May 1 According to the Irish "Book of Invasions," Partholan, the first Irish settler, arrived on the island on May first. Unfortunately, a plague struck, also on a May 1st, and wiped out his people. The Tuatha De Dannan, those ancient Irish believed to have been kin to the gods, were defeated by the Milesians on May first.

Today, in Ireland and around the world except in the United States and Canada, May first is also celebrated as Labor Day. Ironically, it is in honor of the labor movement in the United States in 1886 that sought for a limitation of eight hours to the work day. On May 1, 1886, riots broke out in Chicago over the issue. People were killed, and eight of the leftist labor leaders arrested. They were all tried and convicted, and four executed. One committed suicide in prison, and the other three were later pardoned. In honor of the sacrifices of these people and those who were killed in the riots, a congress of world socialist parties who had gathered in Paris in 1889 declared May 1 as Labor Day. Although some states of the United States observed this Labor Day for some time after 1890, the United States government set the official date for Labor Day in September.

http://encarta.msn.com/find/Concise.asp?... Encarta entry on May Day origins

http://www.14850.com/14850/9505/history.... Story of Labor Day

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