May 1st, known as May Day, is a date steeped in centuries of tradition in the United Kingdom, encompassing layers of historical, cultural, and political significance. While today it may conjure images of dancing around a maypole or participating in modern-day workers' protests, its origins stretch back to the ancient Celtic world. This blog post explores the rich tapestry of customs and transformations surrounding May Day, from the fiery rites of Beltane to the industrial fervour of the 19th century.
Long before May 1st became associated with labour movements or even medieval pageantry, it held sacred meaning for the Celtic peoples of the British Isles. Known as Beltane, this ancient festival marked the beginning of summer and was one of the four major Gaelic seasonal festivals—the others being Samhain, Imbolc, and Lughnasadh.
Beltane, celebrated on the evening of April 30th into May 1st, was a fire festival honouring fertility, renewal, and protection. The name "Beltane" is believed to derive from the Celtic god Belenus, associated with the sun, and the Old Irish word tene, meaning fire.
Fires were lit on hilltops across Britain and Ireland. Livestock were driven between two fires to purify them and protect them from disease. Young people leapt over flames, and couples passed through smoke in fertility rites. It was a time of communal celebration, feasting, and courtship.
As Christianity spread through the British Isles, many Celtic festivals were suppressed or assimilated into Christian traditions. However, aspects of Beltane lived on in more secular and folkloric forms. By the Middle Ages, May 1st had transformed into a day of festive revelry across England and parts of Scotland and Wales.
May Day became associated with the celebration of nature’s rebirth. Villagers would rise at dawn to gather flowers and greenery—this was known as "bringing in the May." Central to the celebration was the maypole, a tall wooden pole erected on the village green and festooned with ribbons. Dancers, often young girls and boys, would weave intricate patterns around the pole to symbolize the interweaving of life.
The crowning of a May Queen, usually a young girl representing spring and fertility, also became a beloved custom. In some areas, a Green Man figure—an ancient pagan symbol of growth—would accompany her.
Medieval May Day also incorporated elements of folk theatre and misrule. Robin Hood plays were especially popular, and communities would stage amateur performances featuring Robin Hood, Maid Marian, and other Merry Men. The holiday offered a rare opportunity for peasants to invert the social order, albeit temporarily.
The joyous nature of May Day eventually came under scrutiny, particularly during the rise of Puritanism in the 17th century. The Puritans disapproved of the raucous dancing, drinking, and perceived pagan origins of the holiday.
In 1644, Parliament officially banned Maypole dancing and May Day festivities. Maypoles were taken down and destroyed across the country. This suppression was short-lived, however. With the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660, May Day was revived with renewed enthusiasm, and the maypole once again rose in village greens and urban squares.
One of the most famous maypoles of this era stood in the Strand, London, measuring over 100 feet tall.
While May Day retained its traditional festive character well into the 18th and early 19th centuries, the Industrial Revolution and the rise of urban centres began to change the nature of British society. The 19th century introduced a new and powerful meaning to May 1st: one of political struggle and workers’ rights.
The 1st of May became a rallying point for the international labour movement, particularly following the 1886 Haymarket Affair in Chicago, where police clashed with workers striking for an eight-hour workday.
Inspired by these events, British trade unions and socialist groups began observing International Workers’ Day on May 1st. Marches, protests, and speeches replaced maypole dances in many cities, especially among the working-class communities of London, Manchester, and Glasgow.
In 1890, the first official May Day labour demonstrations were held in the UK, with tens of thousands participating. Throughout the 20th century, May Day evolved into a dual celebration: both a traditional folk holiday and a day of political activism.
In 1978, under the Labour government of James Callaghan, May Day was officially recognized as a bank holiday in the UK, celebrated on the first Monday of May. This decision reflected growing respect for workers' rights and the labour movement’s contributions to British society.
However, the move also sparked controversy, as some conservatives criticized its association with communist countries and leftist politics.
Today, the 1st of May continues to embody a rich and multifaceted heritage. In rural communities, ancient customs like Morris dancing, maypole dancing, and the crowning of a May Queen still thrive. In Oxford, students and locals gather at dawn to hear the Magdalen College Choir sing from the college tower, a tradition dating back to the 16th century. In Padstow 'Obby 'Oss Festival (Cornwall)is a unique event involving ancient fertility rites, where dancers follow a hobby horse through the streets. Morris Dancing, a form of English folk dancing with roots in pre-Christian ritual, is performed widely on May Day.
On the political front, trade unions, socialist parties, and activists still use May Day to advocate for labour rights, fair wages, and social justice. Demonstrations are often peaceful but passionate, reflecting ongoing concerns about inequality and workers’ conditions.
From its roots in Celtic fire rituals to its place in the labour rights movement, May 1st in the UK is a day of profound historical resonance. It is a testament to the evolving nature of culture, identity, and community—a day where ancient fertility rites mingle with political speeches, and where flowers and flames continue to inspire new generations.
Whether you celebrate May Day by dancing around a maypole, attending a protest, or simply enjoying a spring day off work, you are participating in a tradition that spans thousands of years—a living link to Britain’s vibrant past.