Celebrating?

Happy May Day and what a celebration this is!

Does anyone know if elementary schools still recognize this holiday? I remember my elementary school years celebrating this holiday with the traditional May pole grabbing ribbons and dancing around the pole. Sure….innocent enough and as kids it was a celebration of Spring.

With it being the “rainy season” here in Western Pennsylvania, we could use a little May Day brightness and energy.

Of course, the origins of May Day are pagan in nature and it was a celebration of the first spring planting and hopes for an abundant crop extended to a celebration of fertility and the rising of the May pole being symbolic of…well….ummm...it’s still a man’s world…..then and now….just count the number of commercials you see with matching bath tubs (I still don’t get that visual).

Later, May Day became the International Workers’ Day.

As we enter the month of May, there is a rush of celebrations in which to participate; sure it’s not the big name holidays and I doubt “Hallmark” has a greeting card for them, yet, these days provide an opportunity to have some fun and there should always be time for that!

The Kentucky Derby is this weekend (Saturday, 3 May) and under the counsel of Oprah (we do listen to Oprah) she once said that everybody should at least once celebrate the Kentucky Derby by having a mint julep and smoking a cigar. I can check it off my list…..

In Pittsburgh, Sunday, 4 May is the running of the Pittsburgh Marathon. Go and cheer on the runners for that is an impressive feat especially when I consider that I don’t even drive my car 26 miles in one day!

Monday, 5 May, is Cinco de Mayo, a celebration of the Mexican army’s victory over France in 1862. It’s also a great opportunity to celebrate Mexican culture and have great Mexican food. Interesting that Cinco de Mayo is not a huge holiday in Mexico, yet, in these United States we tend to see it as an occasion to party.

The point of all these ramblings about celebrations is to remember to be intentional and find reasons to celebrate, to throw a party! Find a reason….any reason to gather friends and family and celebrate --- celebrate the blooms, celebrate the sighting of the first goldfinch of the season, celebrate the Pirates scoring more than one run in two consecutive games….just celebrate whatever the season….who needs a reason!

sj;