May Day Celebrations
Dorset 847 ad
to 2021
May Day In West Dorset
A Journey in Time…
1,174 years to be exact
Today I wanted to share my experience and thoughts on how it all started with May Day and the changes that we find now in 2021
A Poet’s View Point
Poetry Through the Ages
Apart from our on-ste Poet ‘Davey’ seen here on the left in reflective pose with a cup of his favorite ‘Challa’
My thoughts drift to the likes of
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s famous poem ‘It Is Not Always May’
“The darting swallows soar and sing
And from the stately elms I hear
The bluebird prophesying Spring”
To the shame of all, Britain lost its Elm trees during the 1980’s caused by an imported invasive fungal pathogen.
Sad to report as well, in this small patch of West Dorset there is a definite decline in the number of swallows which arrive each Spring from more southern climes.
And, of course, we do not have bluebirds in Britain!
More Cheer I Give You this...
A quote from William Henry Davies poem ‘In May’
‘Yes, I will spend the livelong day
With Nature in this month of May,
And sit beneath the trees, and share
My bread with birds whose homes are there’
History shows us that Ignoring Mother Nature will be at our Peril
The 1st of May heralds the final sloughing off from winter. Hopefully all the frosts have gone and nature is just bursting with buds and new growth.
Gardeners can be sure that soil temperatures will be rising for sowing and planting and garden centres will be bursting with all things tempting. There is something deep within ourselves that clings to nature. It is from nature that we survive and thrive.
Mother Natures Miracles
I believe about 70% of new medicines come from nature and many from the Amazon rainforest. The care of our natural environment is something we disregard at our peril because, at the end of the day, the forces of nature will overcome us all if we continue to ignore the warning signs.
The problem of the quality of life is a multidimensional and complex issue and it is a hard thing to balance.
Early Celebrants of May Day
The Romans
The Germanic Countries
The Celts
Despite being opposed through the centuries by both Church and State, May Day celebrations survive today.
The Puritans
Maypole dancing was described by the Puritans as ‘a heathenish vanity’.
It was therefore banned but recommenced again after the restoration of Charles II to the throne. How times have brought in new changes.
How the May Day celebrations have changed over time – Pagan
How ‘Labour Day’ ambushed May Day and became into being at Tolpuddle – First Political Martyrs
A different sort of celebration but equally important is the May Day marches in honour of trades unions, labour parades and political demonstrations.
In Dorset we have at Tolpuddle the site of the first recognised trades union martyrs, local farm workers who were transported to Australia. Their crime in 1834 was to ask for better wages and conditions and by the taking of an oath of secrecy within their group.
I recommend a quick look at tolpuddlemartyrs.org.uk which is a really fascinating webssite that addresses the history and experiences of the men whose names are part of Dorset (and Britains) past and equally as important as the otherwise great and good.
George & James Loveless
Tolpuddle Martyrs
a
James Brine
Tolpuddle Martyr
a
James Hammett
Tolpuddle Martyr
a
John and Thomas Standfield.
Tolpuddle Martyrs
a
It only takes just over an hour to drive to Tolpuddle visit the Museum and Shire Hall and Courtroom which we hope will be open to the public very soon.
Why not combine a trip to Tolpuddle and on the return visit our Roman town of Dorchester? The web site visit-dorset.com will have plenty to inspire you.
Thomas Hardy, Morris Dancers & Dancing Around the May Pole
Traditional festivities included dancing around a Maypole and crowning the Queen of May.
Thomas Hardy (a Dorset man born and bred) refers to May Day fêtes in Tess of The D’urberfields and also in The Return of the Native.
Morris Dancers, can be found performing at many a local village fete on this bank holiday weekend. The earliest reference to Morris dancing is from 1448 and despite a decline in popularity in recent years the tradition is still enjoyed locally in West Dorset. A good way to keep fit!
The Keep Military Museum at Dorchester
Let me draw your attention to the Keep Military Museum on the through road out of Dorchester.
It provides a link to the story of the poverty experienced by agricultural workers and for whom joining their local regiment, The Dorsets, provided an escape from the harsh realities of everyday life and a route to another world.
It is a great place to visit as you don’t feel overburdened with information.
If you decide to stop on your way back to Monkton Wyld then take a few minutes to walk out onto the roof of the museum.
Poundbury – Dorchester
The inspiration of
Prince Charles
You will get to see the realities of Poundbury, the inspiration of Prince Charles, built on the edge of this Roman town.
It is due to be completed in 2026 and will eventually cover 400 acres of land including 150 acres of landscaping for recreation and ecology.
Some like the concept and others don’t but no one can argue the original, distinctive and multi faceted design of the houses and streets.
You can drive through before joining the A 35 on the Western side of the town and make your own decision as to the appropriateness of it all.
We look forward to
meeting customers both
old and new at
Monkton Wyld
Holiday Park
I hope you have enjoyed reading my blog and do stay in touch by joining my Free Newsletter or sending me an email at Stay@MonktonWyld.co.uk
I would love to hear from you
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