It later became based on the Roman goddess Flora, the goddess of flowers.

Today May Day celebrated (or in some cases not at all) in different ways all over the world. Here are some of the customs and traditions.

One lovely custom of the May Day celebration, once popular in parts of England, involved going door-to-door and caroling. Among the common songs the following is one of the oldest and most representative of oral tradition:

“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen; I wish you a happy day; I'm come to show my garland, because it's the First of May.

A bunch of May I have brought you, and at your door it stands; it is but a spray, but it's well spread about, ‘Tis the work of the Fays’ hands.

And now I've sung my little short song, no longer can I stay; Faeries bless you all, both great and small, and grant you a very happy May."

One of the most popularly known May Day traditions is to hang a basket full of spring flowers and/or other small gifts on a neighbor's doorknob. The trick is you don't want the neighbor to see you! If you get caught, you are supposed to get a kiss.

A popular activity on May Day is to decorate a pole with brightly colored ribbon or paper streamers. Some also add flowers and balloons. The pole is usually carried in a parade and then placed in the ground at a designated area. People then dance around the May pole, holding the ends of the streamers or ribbon in their hands.

In London, May Day is celebrated with the children going from house to house. They bring flowers and get pennies in return. The pennies are then thrown into a wishing well. The pennies are then donated to charity.

In France, cows play an important role in May Day. The cows are led in parades with many flowers attached to their tails. The people watching the parade try to touch the cows; it is believed to be good luck.

In Germany, one tradition is for boys to secretly plant a May tree in front of the window of the girl they love.

On May 1st, people in Hawaii celebrate their own version of May Day; they call it Lei Day. People give Hawaiian leis to each other. They put them around each other's necks and sometimes give a traditional kiss.

In some areas in England, it was a custom for young people on May Day morning, to bathe their faces in May dew. In some areas it was regarded as of great value in curing neck ailments, as well as being of cosmetic value. And in other areas was thought to cure freckles.

The May crowning has its origins in the honoring of the Roman goddess Flora, the goddess of flowers. Romans would walk to Flora's temple, their arms filled with flowers they had gathered from the fields. They would lay the flowers around her feet and her head would be crowned with a fresh wreath of flowers. Children would wind flower garlands around the temple. Tradition had it that the first child to bring flowers to honor Flora would be lucky all year long.As with many Roman festivals, the festival of Floralia lasted several days. It began on April 28th and lasted until May 3rd.

Want to learn more about May Day?! Try these links for more factual fun!

Beltane and May Day Customs

Elaine's May Day Page

The Ancient Roman History of May Day