3 May Page 2
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Imphal Times Supplementary issue Page No. 2 Editorial The other Face of “May –Day” Friday, May 3, 2019 In Europe & North America By: Sanjenbam Jugeshwor Singh. of fire to bless cattle and other of green leaves and the wreath is is widespread. Almost every town in livestock’s as they were moved to hung either on the entrance to the Serbia, has its own traditional first- Transforming adversity In the late 19th century 1st May was summer pastures. family house/apartment or on a of- May excursion sites and most chosen as the date for” On May Day, Bulgarians balcony. It remains there until often these are green areas outside International Worker’s Day “by the celebrates Irminden. The holiday is midsummer night. On that night, the the city. to opportunity Socialist and communist to associated with snakes and lizards flower wreaths are set alight in In Spain, May day is Diversity of beliefs, religion, traditions, commemorate the Haymarket and rituals are made in order to bonfires, known as St John’s fire. celebrated throughout the country as Affairs in Chicago. International protect people from them. In Czech May Day has been celebrating in Los Mayos(Lit; the May’s) often in customs, language and cultures presents diverse Worker’s day can also be referred as Republic, May Day Ireland since pagan times as the feast a similar way to Fista de las Crees in opportunities and impediments the world over. May –Day, but it is different istraditionallyconsidered as a of Baltane and latter time as Mary’s many parts of the Hispanic America. What differentiates a progressive culture or celebration from the traditional May- holiday of love and May as a month day. Traditionally, bonfires were lit People sing popular songs (also Day celebrated in almost European of love. The celebration of spring to mark the coming of summer and to called Maios) making mentions to government from one steeped in tradition and blind countries as well as in U.S and are held on 30thApril, when a grant luck to people and livestock. social and political events(around a beliefs is the way difficulties and drawbacks are Canada.May Dayis anancient Maypole is erected-a tradition Old traditions such as bonfire are no decorate tree or sculpture) during the perceived, and addressed. Northern Hemisphere Spring possibly connected to Beltane, longer widely observed though the past year, sometimes under the form festival and a traditional spring since bonfires are also lit on that practice still persist in some places of converse, while they walk around The most developed countries in the world, holiday in many cultures usually day. It is a public holiday on 30 April. across the country. with the percussion of two sticks. at the best of times still have to grapple with celebrated on 1st On May 31st the Maypole is taken In Italy, it is called Calendimaggio Today the tradition became a myriad issues and internal conflicts which are May.Dances,singing and cakes are down in an event called Maypole or Cantar Maggio, a seasonal feast competition where the best sculpture usually part of the festival. The felling. On 1st May couples in love held to celebrate the arrival of spring. and songs received prize. In Sweden, social, political and fiscal in nature. The world earliest known May celebrations are kissing under a blooming tree. “Maias”is a superstition throughout the more traditional festivities have has yet to witness or experience a perfect appeared with the FLORALIA, May Day or Spring Day is a national Portugal,with special focus on the moved to the day before Walpurgis government, and indeed, governing is a thankless festival of Flora, the roman Goddess holiday in Estonia, celebrating the northern territories and rarely Night, known in some locals as simply job. What keeps prominent personalities of flowers, held on 27 April during arrival of spring. More traditional elsewhere. Maias is the dominant last of April and often celebrated with the Roman Republic era and the festivities takes place throughout naming in northern Portugal, but it bonfire and a good bit of drinking. relentlessly pursuing the top posts of a country Maiouma or Maiuma, a festival the night before and into the early may be referred to by other names However 1st May is celebrated as are the inducements and privileges in various celebrating Dionysus and Aphrodite hours of 1 May. In Finland: including DiadasBruxas( Witches International Worker’s Day. forms that comes with the posts. It would be on an unknown date in May every Walpurgis Night is one of the four day), O Burro( the Donkey, referring Traditional English May Day rites three years. The Floralia opened with biggest holidays along with to an evil spirit) or the last of April as and celebrations include crowning a wishful thinking if we are to believe that leaders theatrical performances. In the Christmas Eve; NewYear eve and the local traditions preserved to this May Queen and celebrations of the developed nations or states are above Floralia,Ovid says that hares and Midsummer. Walpurgis witness the day occur on that evening only. involving a Maypole, around which reproach; guided only by their altruistic beliefs goats were released as part of the biggest carnival style festival held People put yellow flowers of dancers often circle with ribbons. festivities. Persiuswrites that crowds in Finland’s cities and towns. The Portuguese brooms, the bushes are Historically. Morris dancing has been and zeal. were pelted with vetches, beans and celebration which begin on the known as giestar. The flowers of the linked to May Day celebrations. May After certain permutations and combinations lupins. A ritual called the Florifertum evening of 30th April and continue bush are known as Maias,which are Day has been celebrated in Scotland of the existing political and economic atmosphere, was performed either on April 27 or up to 1st May. Typically center on placed on doors or gates and every for centuries. It was previously May 3, during which a bundle of the consumption of Sima,sparkling doorways of houses,windows, closely associated with Beltane everything boils down to just a few basic factors wheat ears was carried into a shrine wine and other alcoholic beverages. granaries, currently also cars, which festival. InWales, the first day of that determines the level of efficacy of a though it is not clear if this devotion Student’s traditions, particularly the populace collect on the evening May is known as Calan Mai or government- readiness to usher in changes no was made to Flora or Ceres. Floralia those of engineering students are of the 30th April when the Portuguese CalanHaf, and parallels the festival conducted with competitive events one of the main characteristic of brooms are blooming, to defend of Beltane and other May Day matter how radical or unpopular such a move might and spectacles and a sacrifice to Vappu.On May 1561, King Charles those places from bad spirit, witches tradition in Europe. Traditions would appear initially, ability to reach out and stay Flora. IX of France received a lily of the and evil eyes. The placement of the start the night before with bonfires connected with the masses through its various According to the 6th century valley as a lucky charm. He decided May flower or bush in the doorways and is considered a spring night agencies, the political determination backed by chronicles of JhonMalalas, the to offer a lily of the valley each year must be done before midnight. On when people would gather hawthorn Maiuma was a “nocturnal dramatic to the ladies of the court. At the May Day, the Romanians celebrate and flowers to decorate their houses, action for curbing corruption, despotism and festival” held every three years and beginning of the 20th century, it the arminden(orArmindeni), celebrating new growth and fertility. nepotism as well as the humility to respect and known as orgies that is, the became custom to give a sprig of thebeginning of summer, While on May Day celebrations give space for other machineries such as the law Mysterious of Dionysus and lily of the valley, a symbol of symbolically tied with the protection would include summer dancing and Aphrodite and it was known as the springtime on 1 May. The of crops and farm animals. The day May carols other times referred to as and media to carry out their roles in the society Maioumas because it is celebrated government permits individuals and is celebrated to ensure good wine in singing under the wall, May Day without any restraint or suspicion of unwarranted in the month of May. During this workers organization to sell them tax autumn and for people and farm wasalso a time for officially opening influence. time, enough money was set aside free on that day. Nowadays, people animals’ alike, good health and a village green. In Canada,May Day by the celebrated with splendorous may present loved ones either with protection from the elements of is celebrated in some parts of the China, the most populous country in the world banquets and offerings. Its bunches of lily of the valley or dog nature (Storms, hailillness pests). provinces of British beset with the accompanying problems of reputation for licentiousness causes rose flowers. In rural regions of People will have parties in natural Columbia,Quebec,New Brunswick overpopulation and underemployment, after a long it to be suppressed during the reign Germany, especially the Harz surroundings with fiddlers for those and Ontario. In Toronto, on the of Emperor Constaine, though a less Mountains, Walpurgisnacht who could afford it. Then it is morning of 1stMay, various struggle, realised the opportunities presented by debauched version of it was briefly celebrations of Pagan origin are customary to roast and eat lamb Morrisdancing troops from Toronto its inherent shortcomings and shifted focus from restored during the reign of Arcadius traditionally held on the night before along with new mutton cheese and and Hamilton gather on the road by an agrarian economy to one with optimum and Honorius, only to be suppressed May Day including bonfires and to drink mug wort- flavored wine or grenadier, café, inHigh Park to dance utilization of the abundantly available manpower again during the san period.