May Day has a special place in my heart. From the moment I learned about it in 4th grade, I’ve loved how this little holiday brings joy to everyone. With how the world is now, we need a little kindness to get us all through.
May Day was originally the halfway point between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. Like a lot of old European holidays, it was celebrated in different ways, but the most common reason was to celebrate the start of the summer. Traditionally, people would place baskets of flowers on their neighbors’ doorsteps to show appreciation and spread the joy of their crops.
They would also wrap a maypole. You’ve probably seen these in movies, where children grab a piece of ribbon and wrap around a pole creating a beautiful interwoven design. This holiday has been around for a longtime, but it’s changed a lot since it’s original conception.
Today, lots of people go out and bring flowers to their favorite people, or just people they want to show appreciation to. In recent years, people bought craft flowers or made paper flowers. You too can go out and bring flowers to the people that you care for.
MY MAY DAY EXPERIENCE
I was only taught the original traditions of May Day last year, but I’ve been celebrating May Day in my own little way since my childhood. I never had the money or time to buy flowers, and when I moved in middle school, it was hard to grow my own. Most of the time, I would create little cards, pick dandelions, or even make paper flowers.
Here’s the part I remember most: I never left my name or even hinted at who I was. I left these gifts in my neighbors mailboxes, my mom’s car, or on my teacher’s desk. I never fessed up that it was me leaving these presents, and it would make me feel so, so, so happy seeing the glow on the recipients’ faces (if I had the chance to see their reactions).
To me, the point of May Day is to give someone a piece of joy, even if it’s as small as a dandelion. The hope that people feel after receiving a gift of any kind, no matter how small, means all the world to me. I plan on spreading kindness by putting flowers outside my neighbors’ doors and in my coworkers’ drawers. I’ll be passing out some random flowers at the end of Bear Fest today (May 1)!
For May Day 2026, go out, celebrate, and appreciate the people in your life. No matter how big or small, the deeper meaning behind your random acts of kindness means more than the recognition of doing it.