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Yes, it’s May, it’s May, the lusty month of May and what better way to start off a month that’s supposed to be warm than a bit of celebration. From fertility rites to labor rights, there’s plenty of fascinating information about this most festive and historic day.

– On April 30, much of central Europe and Scandinavia will celebrate “Walpurgis Night,” named in honor of St. Walburga, an English-born nun who is believed to have cured the illnesses of many local residents. Many of the holiday’s customs date back to pagan celebrations of fertility rights and the coming of spring –burning an effigy witch atop a bonfire means saying goodbye to winter.

– In many countries, May 1 is considered Labor Day after a 19th century U.S. movement to establish an eight-hour work day (as opposed to 10 hours or more). Today, many parades, speeches, and protests occur on May 1 in various nations — but oddly not in the U.S. where the rallying originally began.

– The pagan name for May Day is Beltane, which means “day of fire,” and was meant to mark the coming of summer and fertility. It was an important festival in the Celtic calendar, while a similar celebration called “Floralia” was marked on the Roman calendar. Over time, the rituals of Beltane and Floralia wereoverlapped and are still practiced today.

Full story at Huffington Post.

Know your holidays.

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