hi everyone i'm gina
may day is the first day of may and it
has been celebrated in england for two
millennia it is a day that is steeped in
tradition and displays england's less
modern side
in this lesson you're going to learn
about mayday celebrations
the first may day celebrations were held
over 2000 years ago but by what group of
people we'll show you the answer at the
end of this video
although may day is the first of may
since 1978
it has been observed on the first monday
of may
this day is deemed a bank holiday and
the majority of people in the uk have
the day off from work or school
the purpose of may day is to celebrate
the oncoming summer
summer doesn't officially begin until
june but may day celebrates the end of
the colder weather and hope for a nice
summer
may day celebrations are associated with
flowers as trees and plants begin to
blossom around this time
mayday is observed more keenly in the
villages and small towns of the uk
there people will dress in traditional
clothes and take part in activities such
as dancing around a maypole and will
demonstrate traditional dances such as
morris dancing
also girls will compete for the honor of
being crowned the may queen for that
year
in the 17th century mayday was banned by
the then puritan government and
reinstated in 1660 with the restoration
of king charles ii
charles later amended all documents to
show that he was coronated in 1649
instead of 1660.
and now i'll give you the answer to the
earlier quiz
the first mayday celebrations were held
over 2000 years ago but by what group of
people
it was the romans they celebrated the
festival of flora the roman goddess of
flowers
it was also celebrated in many germanic
countries and developed into the may day
we celebrate today
how was this lesson did you learn
something interesting do you have any
celebrations similar to may day in your
country
leave us a comment at
englishclass101.com
and we'll see you in the next lesson