Falling midway between the spring equinox and the summer solstice, May Day, May 1, celebrates the fullness of spring. It started centuries ago in western Europe, and has many different traditions associated with it.

One is to gather flowers from your garden into cone-shaped baskets, hang them on your neighbor’s doorknob, ring the bell, and run away.

Another is to dance around a maypole weaving intricate designs with the ribbons.

When I was a girl attending a Catholic elementary school, our May tradition was that each morning a different girl brought a crown formed out of flowers from our home gardens. We processed out of the school building singing a hymn such as “Immaculate Mary” and the chosen maiden of the day crowned a statue of Mary on the school grounds. Then we sang another hymn, “Queen of the May” in Mary’s honor.

Have you ever participated in a May Day celebration?