{"id":11735,"date":"2023-04-26T18:11:16","date_gmt":"2023-04-26T22:11:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/?p=11735"},"modified":"2023-04-26T18:11:16","modified_gmt":"2023-04-26T22:11:16","slug":"the-very-merry-month-of-may","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/2023\/04\/26\/the-very-merry-month-of-may\/","title":{"rendered":"The Very Merry Month of May!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/em><\/p>\n

O the month of May, the merry month of May,<\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0So frolic, so gay, and so green, so green, so green<\/em><\/span>!<\/em><\/h4>\n

~Thomas Decker, The Shoemaker’s Holiday<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

I just love saying, the Merry Month of May! Maybe it\u2019s the alliteration<\/a> or maybe, it\u2019s because I love May. I\u2019m not the first or the last that will think May is a merry month. A book, several songs, a play and movies have all used the phrase Merry Month of May<\/em>. For me, it evokes a feeling of joy and anticipation. I\u2019m really looking forward to May.\"\"<\/p>\n

The first day of May<\/a> is the\u00a0halfway point between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. Early Celtic celebrations focused on agricultural events like crops starting to sprout and animals procreating. Bringing in the May<\/em> meant bringing in flowers and green branches to decorate homes and opening up doors for the fresh May air. Girls would wash their faces in the morning dew to encourage beauty. There were many more traditions such as filling baskets or cones with flowers and sweets to leave at front doors anonymously, weaving garlands from flowers and dancing around a maypole. Huge bonfires were lit and the area residents enjoyed food and dancing.<\/p>\n

Food for the Celtic celebrations would have included ingredients grown in spring such as asparagus, leeks, mushrooms, peas, lettuces, fresh herbs and berries, as well as fresh fish and meats. However some ingredients would have been a bit different than what we serve today. They used all kinds of ingredients that were more readily available like nettles from the sea, wild herbs and plants such as sweet woodruff. The Celts mined salt which they used to preserve cheese. They are given credit for helping introduce butter churning to modern Europe. The Celts would likely have served salmon since they believed it represented wisdom. Maybe that’s where the idea that fish is “brain food” originated!<\/p>\n

The first of May is still celebrated in other parts of the world, but the Puritans discouraged any \u201cpagan rites,\u201d so it’s not as embraced by our country. I\u2019m always up for a celebration and any event that gets me outside for a party sounds good to me. So let\u2019s celebrate the first day of May!<\/p>\n

Merry May Day Celebration:<\/h2>\n