THE CUSTOMS OF MAY


The last night of April was known as "Mischief Night" in many parts of
England, and young people used to play tricks on their neighbours. Also
on this night, boughs of Rowan (also called Witchwood) were carried
around huge bonfires, and placed over doors, to break the spells of
witches. In Herefordshire, people used to place trays of moss outside
their houses for the faeries to dance upon on May Eve.

Maypoles were raised on May Day to celebrate the end of winter and
welcome the beginning of summer. The first maypoles were simply trees
which were decorated with flowers. People used to hold hands in a large
circle, and dance around the tree.

At the beginning of May, in Helston in Cornwall, the Furry Dance takes
place. This is also to celebrate the beginning of summer. Houses are
decorated with greenery and flowers, and the young people start dancing
as early as 7.00am. The main dance begins at noon, and is led by the
Mayor. At 5.00pm the last dance starts, to the "Hal-an-Tow" Song:

Robin Hood and Little John
They both are gone to the Fair-O
And we to the merry greenwood
To see what they do there-O
And for to chase, O
To chase the buck and doe
With Hal-an-Tow
Jolly Rumble, O

And we were up as soon as day-O
And for to fetch the summer home
The summer and the May-O
For summer is a come-O
And winter is a go-O
With Hal-an-Tow
Jolly Rumble, O.

In Abbotsbury, Dorset, Garland Day falls on May 13. Children would take
garlands of flowers to the fishing boats, which would then put out to
sea. The garlands would be thrown overboard as a tribute to the sea God,
to bring good luck to the fishermen.