Ancestors Speak – May Day (May 1)

Picture of May Pole Dancing from www.Classicalvalues.com 

 

Our Ancestors believed in the power of ritual and celebration.  The month of May is named for the Greek Goddess, Maia, seventh daughter of Atlas. In Europe, May Day is regarded as a way of celebrating the feminine, the Goddesses of Fertility, to ensure that the planting and harvesting will be successful.  The Maypole represents the male, and the ribbons represent the female. The Maypole becomes an artistic rendering of the act of copulation. 

In some countries, the people that have enough to eat and wear often leave presents tied to the trees to honour the Goddesses, and to allow the Goddesses to “see” how generous they were, thus ensuring the “reward” of a bountiful harvest.  The Goddess would then “direct” sending of the gifts to those that needed them. 

Sacred trees which are used in this honouring festival include willow, rowan (mountain ash), apple, fig, pine, and oak trees.  As the trees received gifts, the people believed the fruit of the tree multiplied so that both humans and animals would receive much harvest in the fall.

Some thoughts on May:

• the full moon is called “The Frog Moon”
• colours are hazel and pink
• flowers are lily and trefoil
• May’s creatures are magpies and doves

Enjoy May as a time of renewal!

Judy@angelsandancestors.com    Check the website www.angelsandancestors.com for the posting of the May newsletter.