From dancing around the Maypole to special foods eaten on this day, there are many fun and exciting traditions to celebrate this springtime holiday. Learn about some of the most popular May Day traditions from different countries and cultures below.
What do you typically do on May Day? Celebrate the May Day tradition–a tradition around 600 years old–with a dance around the maypole or any of these other fun ideas. Also known as Beltane, May Day is traditionally a time to celebrate spring, the freshly sprouting seeds, and the beautiful landscape. There are colorful, fragrant flowers in bloom everywhere, the sun is shining, the birds are singing, and life is fresh and filled with new hope. Whether you enjoy May Day traditions like gifting loved ones with baskets of flowers or leis, dancing around the maypole, or prefer something more low-key–there’s no wrong way to celebrate May Day. Here’s a list of 17 May Day celebration ideas to get you started. You might also enjoy this list of fun spring activities for kids and adults.
17 May Day Celebration Ideas from Around the World
May Day is a holiday celebrated for centuries all over the world. Commonly, people celebrate the return of spring on May Day. Like several other holidays, the May Day traditions celebrated today began in the early days of agriculture. The most common May Day traditions include dancing around the maypole, crowning a May Queen, and giving flowers to loved ones. Here are some fun things to do for May Day with your family, friends, and community:
1. Dancing Around the Maypole
May Day is a celebrated event all around the world, and one of the most common and popular May Day traditions is dancing around the maypole. This classic springtime tradition began as a pagan fertility ritual, but it has become a staple of May Day celebrations in many countries across the globe.
If you’re unfamiliar, a maypole is a tall pole with colorful ribbons or streamers attached to the top. Traditionally, people join together to dance around the maypole, weaving the ribbons in and out. The Maypole dance symbolizes the union of male and female energy and, interestingly enough, the coming together of springtime fertility.
While the Maypole’s brightly colored ribbons represent the lengthening days as summer approaches. The Maypole dance creates a multi-colored pattern that creeps steadily down the pole until the dancers reverse their steps and undo the ribbons.
When you don’t have a maypole handy, you can easily make one using a pole or broomstick. Tie streamers or ribbons of different colors around the pole, then have everyone take hold of a ribbon and dance around it in a circle. Weave the ribbons in and out to create a pretty pattern as you dance.
2. Make Spring Flower Crowns
Make flower crowns to wear as a part of your May Day celebrations. Flower crowns are traditional attire for children as they dance around the Maypole, but they look gorgeous on children and adults at any spring festival. There are many fun ways to make a flower crown with fresh flowers, felt flowers, or paper. Here’s a list of fresh flower crafts with a few gorgeous flower crown tutorials that make it easy to celebrate this May Day Tradition.
3. Celebrate Lei Day on May Day!
In Hawaii, May Day is Lei Day! It is a celebration of the Hawaiian culture and the spirit of Aloha. A King and queen are selected to represent each of the islands, schools put on plays, and dance the luau in parks and other communities in celebration of May Day.
On Lei Day, children and adults gift fresh flower leis to family and friends to celebrate spring. Another fun idea is to make and give felt flower lei necklaces.
There is also a famous song and luau dance performed to celebrate May. And here are a few of the lyrics, “May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii, garlands of flowers everywhere, all of the colors in the rainbow, maidens with blossoms in their hair.”
You can see the “May Day is Lei Day” song and luau dance performed by members of the global Hula ʻOhana at the Lei Day Hōʻike in 2021 and hear the rest of the lyrics in the video below. Learn more about Lei Day and its history–> HERE.
4. Give Flowers to Your Loved Ones
One of the most enduring May Day traditions is giving flowers to your loved ones. Gifting flowers is a popular May Day tradition in many countries, including the United States, France, and Italy. If you want to stick with tradition, choose a flower type traditionally associated with May Day.
In the United States, that flower is the lily of the valley. In France, it’s the Hawthorne blossom, and in Italy, it’s the Margherita daisies. And, on the Islands of Hawaii, flower leis are made, given, and worn around the neck on May Day.
But if you are not a stickler for tradition, any flower will make a great gift for celebrating May Day. Whatever type of flower you choose, giving them to your loved ones is a simple way to show them how much you care. Plus, it’s a great way to enjoy the beauty of springtime.
5. Make May Day Baskets
Another popular May Day tradition is making May Day baskets. This May Day tradition is common in many European countries–particularly Germany and Switzerland. It’s also popular in the United States, where people often fill these baskets with flowers and other small gifts.
Making May Day baskets is a great way to express your creativity, and it’s also a lot of fun for kids and adults. So, if you’re looking for a May Day tradition that even toddlers can make and everyone will enjoy, making May Day baskets is a great option.
If you want to join in on the fun, all you need is some paper, scissors, and glue. Then, you can let your creativity run wild as you make your own May Day basket to place some flowers in. Waldorf teachers roll up watercolor paintings in the shape of a cone with a finger knit handle, but you can fashion your May Day basket any way you wish.
6. Deliver May Day Baskets
Once you make flower baskets, invite the kids to deliver May Day baskets to family, friends, and neighbors. Hang them on the neighbor’s doorknobs or drop them off on doorsteps as a fun way to send springtime greetings and say–happy spring! At my daughter’s school, it’s traditional to visit retirement communities and nursing homes to deliver flowers and sing spring songs to bring the spirit of spring into the hearts of the aging community.
7. Decorate Your Home with Flowers and Flower Crafts
Another May Day tradition is to decorate your front door, home, and even your livestock (or pets) with flowers. Invite children to gather wildflowers and flowers from your backyard or garden, or grab some from the local florist to fill your house with spring flowers. This is a common tradition in many European countries, particularly Germany and Switzerland.
It’s also popular in the United States, where people often hang garlands of flowers around their front doors. If you want to decorate your home for May Day, try using flowers traditionally associated with this holiday, such as lilies of the valley, Hawthorne blossoms, or Margherita daisies. And, if you are looking for flower craft ideas you can make to celebrate May Day, look at the list of ideas below.
8. Make Flower Crafts In Celebration of May Day
Get creative with your flower decorations and flower crafts with any of the great ideas on the list below. Making flower crafts is a fun May Day tradition and a great way to celebrate May Day with kids. Once finished, feel free to use them to decorate your home.
Try making a May Day wreath for your front door or a May Day garland to hang inside your home. Or, if you’re feeling adventurous, try your hand at making a maypole or a maypole craft. Traditionally, fresh flowers are used to make crafts on May Day, but making flower crafts with felt or paper can also be fun. Here’s a list of Flower arts and crafts you can try at home or in the classroom:
- Fresh Flower Nature Crafts (photo below)
- Felt Flowers on Twig Stems
- How to Make a Felt Flower Lei Necklace
- Flower Painting Ideas
- Shell Daisy Craft
- Fresh Flower Suncatcher Crafts
- Fingerprint Flower Glass Magnets
- How to Make Fingerprint Flower Necklaces and Keychains
9. Plant Spring Flowers in your Yard or Garden
May Day is a great day to plant spring flowers around your home and garden. Head to your local nursery to pick up some trays of flowers or seed packs, and invite children and other family and friends to join you. And, if you need a little help, here’s a gardening tutorial that makes it easy to plant flowers organically in your yard or garden.
10. Fly a Kite to Celebrate May Day
Flying a kite is a popular May Day tradition in many countries, including the United States, China, and India. If you want to join in on the fun, all you need is a kite and a little bit of wind. Then, let your kite soar high into the sky. Learn how to make a kit, fly a kite, and keep everyone safe and happy in How to Fly a Kite.
Flying a kite is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and get some exercise. Plus, it’s a lot of fun for the kids to do. So, if you’re looking for May Day celebration ideas from around the world that everyone can enjoy, flying a kite is a great option.
11. Play May Day Games
Another popular May Day tradition is playing games. Playing May Day games is a common tradition in many European countries, particularly Germany and Switzerland. Games are also popular in the United States, where people often play them at May Day celebrations. If you want to join in on the fun, there are plenty of May Day games you can choose.
One popular game for children is the Maypole Dance. This game is played by dancing around a Maypole while holding on to ribbons or streamers attached to the top of the pole. Another popular game is called May Day Basket, similar to Easter egg hunts. People hide baskets filled with flowers and other small gifts around their homes or neighborhoods in this game. Then, people have to find the baskets and bring them back to the May Day celebration.
12. Eat Traditional May Day Foods
Another traditional thing to do for May Day is eating special foods. In Sweden, for example, it’s common to eat a type of flavored porridge called havregröt. This dish is made with oats, milk, and sugar and can be served plain or with fruit.
In the Czech Republic, a sweet treat called May Day cake is often enjoyed on this holiday. This cake is made with yeast dough and filled with fruit or jam.
In the United States, it’s traditional to deliver a May Day basket on this holiday. This basket is typically filled with flowers–but can sometimes contain candy and other small gifts. It’s then hung on the doorknob of a friend or neighbor as a surprise.
13. Have a May Day Picnic
Another popular May Day tradition is having a picnic. Going on a picnic is a common way to celebrate May Day in many countries, including the United States, France, and Italy. If you want to join in on the fun, all you need is some food and a blanket. Then, find a spot outdoors and enjoy a relaxing meal with your friends or family.
Having a picnic is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and the company of your loved ones. Plus, it’s a great excuse to eat some delicious food. So, if you’re looking for a May Day tradition that everyone can enjoy, having a picnic is a great option.
14. Enjoy a May Faire Celebration
Go to a May Faire to celebrate May Day! Communities worldwide have carnivals and festivals on or around May first and often feature traditional activities such as dancing the Maypole and other traditional May Day activities.
Our daughter’s Waldorf school is happy to be celebrating May Day with a good ol’ fashioned May Faire after a two-year hiatus, and we are so excited to celebrate spring with our community once again. Check your local listings for a May Fair near you to enjoy the spring festivities!
15. Host or Attend a Bonfire to CeLebrate Beltane
Another popular May Day tradition is having a bonfire. Hosting or attending a May Day bonfire is a common tradition in many European countries, particularly Germany and Switzerland. It’s also popular in the United States, where people often gather around bonfires to sing and dance to celebrate May Day.
In the Middle Ages, the Gaelic people celebrated the festival of Beltane on May Day. In Gaelic, Beltane means “Day of Fire.” And historically, people created large bonfires and danced at night to celebrate the sown fields as they began to sprout.
If you want to join in on the fun, learn how to build a campfire or bonfire and keep everyone safe in how to build a campfire. Next, ask someone to strum a guitar, or a ukulele, have a spring sing along and enjoy the warmth of the flames. Besides, hosting or attending a bonfire is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and the company of your loved ones. Plus, it’s a great excuse to roast some marshmallows!
16. Sing and Dance to Celebrate The Spring
Another May Day celebration idea from around the world is singing and dancing. And while the type of dance and song may vary (see what I did there), they each are a celebration of spring. Singing and dancing in celebration of May Day is a common tradition in many European countries–particularly Germany and Switzerland. It’s also popular in the United States, where people often gather around bonfires to sing and dance. If you want to join in on the fun–all you need is some music and the willingness to get up and dance. Then, you can enjoy May Day to the fullest by singing and dancing your heart out.
17. Tell May Day Stories or Read Spring Books
Another fun thing to do on May Day is telling stories and reading books about spring. Look at this list of spring books for kids to gather ideas. Or, learn about May Day in Hawaii and why it is one of the most celebrated traditions in Kalei’s May Day in Hawai’i Nei.
17 May Day Traditions And Celebration Ideas You Can Try at Home
May Day is a traditional holiday celebrated in many countries around the world. While the holiday has many different origins, the common theme is the celebration of spring. Do you have any fun May Day traditions? We’d love to hear how YOU celebrate May Day at home. Please share them in the comments below! We’d love to hear about how you and your family celebrate spring on this special day. Whether you make a Maypole, have a picnic, or do something else entirely, we can’t wait to hear about it. Happy May Day!
Learn more about Rhythms of Play–> HERE.
Leave a Comment