May Day
Katies performing a maypole
dance as part of CSC's May Fete
(year unknown) |
The first of May is associated with several events. Many May Day customs come from the ancient Roman festival of flowers, Floralia. It is also related to the Celtic holiday of Beltane. May Day rituals symbolized the rebirth of nature and human fertility. More recently, many colleges held spring festivals on or near the beginning of May.
In the late 19th century, May 1 became associated with the growing labor movement, especially following the Haymarket Riot. Since then many countries have celebrated May Day as International Workers' Day or Labor Day. May 1 has also become a day of protest, as in last year's Day Without an Immigrant in support of immigration.
In 1955, Pope Pius XII instituted May 1 as the feast of St. Joseph the Worker, with the intention of emphasizing the spiritual aspect of labor.
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May Day
MayDay: In the Heart of the Beast
Information about the 33rd annual MayDay Parade and Festival in the Powderhorn Park neighborhood of Minneapolis
The American Book of Days
Ref GT 4803 .D6 2000
Holidays, Festivals, and Celebrations of the World Dictionary
Ref GT 3925 .T46 1997
Standard Dictionary of Folklore 2 vols.
Ref GR 35 .F8
Celebrating May Day
Article describing the history and traditions of May Day
Infoplease: May Day
May Day and Roman Floralia
May Day: Festival for the Workers
Article from The Socialist Review, examining the origins of May Day as a form of protest
May Day Origins
Labor Unions / Labor Movement
Books
Encyclopedia of American History 11 vols.
Ref E 174 .E53 2003
Encyclopedia of American Social Movements 4 vols.
Ref HN 57 .E597 2004
Encyclopedia of American Studies 4 vols.
Ref E 169.1 .E625 2001
Encyclopedia of the United States in the Twentieth Century 4 vols.
Ref E 740.7 .E53 1996
Work in America 2 vols.
Ref HD 8066 .W637 2003
Web Sites
AFL-CIO
Coalition of Labor Union Women
International Labor Organization
U.S. Department of Labor
Saint Joseph the Worker
Optional Memorial of St. Joseph the Worker
New Catholic Encyclopedia
"St. Joseph", vol. 7, especially pp. 1040-1041
Ref BX 841 .N44 2003
Saints of the Roman Calendar
Ref BX 4655.2 .L63513 1992
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