May 1, 2023
Each year, the first of May is called May Day. This ancient European celebration is tied to the cycle of seasons. Many of the ancient traditions around the world marked important astronomical events. In the case of May Day, ancient practitioners celebrated the day as the start of summer. Today is a cross quarter day which marks a halfway point between seasons. May Day is the halfway point between the spring equinox and summer solstice.
An 1892 celebration of May day, published in the Strand Magazine, Volume 3. Image credit: public domain
