Oak, Ash and Thorn - May Day of Old

Not to make light of the immigrant's plight - hey, I'm a stranger here myself (to quote Bill Bryson, literary idol & bearded sage of the British/American experience), but today is May Day, Beltane, deep-rooted ancient occasion for outdoor frivolity and celebration, al fresco lovemaking, the gathering of fresh, spring flowers. A time to feast and conjure summer in.

Instead we're living in a time of civil unrest for millions of modern American immigrants.  And May Day is no longer an appropriate occasion for skipping around a be-ribboned maypole, frolicking in the meadow, barefoot, laying in the long grasses to view the flowering of the oak and ash and thorn trees, bathed in the sun coming out of the South.

Gypsy woodland weddings typically took place in Europe at this time of year and to seal their bond, the happy couples would leap over a bonfire hand in hand. The old name for the pagan feast beginning  at the start of May was Beltane, a blend of the name of the ancient sun god and the Celtic for fire. The concept  of 'A Maying' allowed the young and enthusiastic to stay out all night long in search of companionship amidst the first branches of flowering hawthorn in the woods! Maypoles would stand on the village green. A symbol of life and a link from the sky to the earth.

Too bad we have lost the passion for celebrating annual rites of passage. Although it's not for lack of trying that our teens would stay out for the night. In many ways, life for the masses in the English speaking world sadly isn't much more improved than it was when pagan villagers were able, for one day at least, to parade and dance and crown their May Queen. Then stay out in the woods all night with little fear of the bogey man. Or the INS.