5 OF THE BEST... May Day traditions

Grab your ribbons and bells to celebrate spring

‘OBBY ‘OSS TWO HOBBY HORSES TOUR PADSTOW IN CORNWALL, ACCOMPANIED BY MUSICIANS ROUSING THE CROWD IN SONG.

BELTANE MARKING HALFWAY BETWEEN THE SPRING EQUINOX AND SUMMER SOLSTICE, THIS GAELIC FESTIVAL FEATURES BELTANE BONFIRES, WHICH ARE SAID TO PROTECT CROPS, COWS AND PEOPLE.

JACK-IN-THE-GREEN SPOT THE JACK-IN-THE-GREEN (RIGHT) – CLAD IN A CONICAL OR PYRAMIDAL FRAME WOVEN WITH FOLIAGE – LEADING A PARADE IN A TRADITION DATING BACK TO THE 1700S.

MAY DAY DEW THIS CUSTOM INVOLVES YOUNG WOMEN WASHING THEIR FACES WITH DAWN DEW FOR A CLEAR COMPLEXION IN THE YEAR TO COME.

MAY GOSLINGS IN MANY PLACES IN THE NORTH, ‘APRIL FOOL’S DAY’ IS IN MAY. THOSE WHO FALL FOUL OF A PRANKSTER ARE CALLED ‘MAY GOSLINGS’, A RELATIVE OF THE ‘SILLY GOOSE’.