May Day

The May Day holiday nowadays seems to be quite sad and pathetic

However, the May Day celebrations of yesteryear seem to have been quite different

May Day, or Calan Mai here in south Wales (or Calan Haf in north Wales) was always celebrated in the rural villages and hamlets, with roots way back to druidic times

How was it celebrated in Whitchurch? Perhaps we’ll never know, but there are lots of stories and hints of the events that have occurred over the years

May Day was an important time of celebration and merriment and considered to be the start of the summer. For many rural communities it was the end of winter isolation, a chance for socialising and coming together

It was the day when the herds (and flocks) would be turned out to pasture. In the really rural areas of Wales, it was when farming families moved from their valley home (hendre) to higher pasture (hafod)

The day itself was quite special, but the night before, ‘ynbrydnos’ or ‘spirit night’ was celebrated as May Eve. At nightfall, steps were taken to prevent witches from entering houses by marking crosses on the front door. In Monmouthshire there are reports of crosses on doors fashioned from twigs

The lighting of bonfires on May Eve, represented an opportunity for purification, to banish harmful spirits and to protect animals from disease. Traditionally, it was said that the fairy folk would attempt to drive off the cattle or sheep, and driving the stock between bonfires would guard against this. And the placing of cold bonfire ashes in your shoes helped too. Of course, the youths of the village would also attempt to jump over the fires. There are stories of young couples who would jump the fire together to show their faith in each other

May Day itself meant village folk being wakened by the singing of Summer Carols by the village youth, passing from house to house, giving thanks for the seasons to come

And the May Day festivities themselves, consisting of gathering hawthorn branches and may flowers, but only to decorate the exterior of the houses as it was unlucky to bring them inside (I can remember my own mother telling us this when I was little). Then there was the maypole, painted in bright colours, wrapped in ribbons, and dancers; quite a special Welsh celebration. Each village had its own troupe, dressed in white apart from 2 who were the ‘fool’ and ‘cadi’. Fool was dressed as the jester with a bright costume, and Cadi with his Cangen Haf pole festooned with ribbon and shiny objects (such as spoons and cups) weaving their way with their intricate dances

Then there was singing and dancing, May Day games and fortune telling, and most likely lots of drinking and eating

I’m sure that Whitchurch was no different to so many other villages and hamlets throughout south Wales in celebrating. I wonder where the maypole would have been raised? Perhaps on the common?

It’s so difficult to picture our village in the distant past, but I can imagine how important the May Day celebration was for our predecessors. If only they could see us all now, moaning about this pathetic public holiday between Easter and the ‘proper’ Spring Holiday, I’m sure they’d have words to say

But to finish, I came across this photograph from 1980 (over 40 years ago) when the youth of Whitchurch celebrated the ‘Grog Trot’, visiting as many of the local pubs and clubs in the area whilst dressed in fancy costume! Not so different to the celebrations of yesteryear after all

What do you think?

 

 

With thanks to Steve Nicholas for the use of his photo

 

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