Hooray, Hooray!

When the clock ticked over to announce the beginning of another May 1st, a quiet but enthusiastic cheer resonated inside the members of my family and close friends. My dear, departed father greeted this moment on the calendar each year with a rousing, "Hooray! Hooray! It's the first of May ... outdoor screwing starts today!" While he is oft remembered for many things, this single burst of exhilaration brings wide grins to our faces, not for the MESSAGE ... for the MESSENGER! I am quite sure that at some point in history, likely in more moderate latitudes, the first of May was annually a few degrees warmer, fanning the flames of l'amour with a stiffer breeze, but following this proclamation in Canada can lead to some frostbitten cheeks!

On the 2021 version, I awoke like normal, beating the sun in the process, made my morning cuppa, and fired up Facebook prompted by the Pavlovian red dot perched atop the icon on my iPhone home page. The top notification was my youngest brother's updated status signalling the remembrance of "Doc's" yearly tradition, already greeted by close friend's comments, stirring a warming in my soul that was definitely not due to the mug in my hand. While my father's memory is rarely absent from my day's thoughts, on this particular day it is strongly poignant, causing a silent personal prayer to waft heavenward in hopes that his essence can detect the love and gratitude that fills my soul.

May first is not just a celebration of our most biological and emotional need.

Here in North America, Canada (and the USA) celebrates Labor Day on the first Monday of September, but in many countries around the world, the first of May is observed as Workers' Day or International Workers' Day, commemorating the historic struggles and gains made by workers and the labour movement. According to Wikipedia, the day was chosen in 1889 by the Socialists and Communists of the Second International to commemorate the Anarchist Haymarket affair in Chicago, site of a bombing during a labour demonstration on May 4th, 1886. International Workers' Day is often called "May Day", but it is an entirely different celebration from the traditional May Day, an ancient festival of spring that stems back to the Roman festival of Floralia (named for the Roman goddess of the flowers) which led to the current traditional spring holiday in many European cultures that features dances, singing, and cake as a part of the festivities.

In a related celebration, the Romans also observed the Maiouma (or Maiuma), a festival held every three years during the month of May as a nocturnal dramatic festival known as Orgies, or the Mysteries of Dionysus and Aphrodite. You may recall from your history studies that these two Gods were the impetus of much imbibing and fornicating. Learning this choice morsel of information leads me to believe that my dear father's annual declaration is seeded in the long standing practice of honouring Dionysus and Aphrodite, and one should never actively seek to mock the Gods, hence the practice of amorous activities in the great outdoors.

Not to be outdone by the Romans, Catholics around the world would shudder when confronted with the knowledge that these pagan celebrations resulted in their church's May devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary that were coupled with two feast days in honour of St Joesph the worker, a carpenter my trade and Jesus' surrogate father. Ultimately, this date was chosen in 1955 by Pope Pius XII as a counterpoint to the communist International Workers Day celebrations on May Day, leading to the commemoration of May first in calendars around the globe. 

Be that as it may ... no word pun intended ... the annual pledge to get outdoors for entertainment will be forever observed in my family as a tip o' the hat to the patriarch's positive influence on our collective mindsets. Perhaps it was those dreamy longings that created other May 1st observances like National Loyalty Day, National Mother Goose Day, National Chocolate Parfait Day, and even School Principals' Day. 

Whatever you decide to celebrate, get outside into nature, bask in the day's sunshine, and enjoy the company of your loved ones.