Transcript May Day (presentation in PowerPoint format, cartoon

Beltane
May 1st
Retold by Lin Donn
Illustrated by Phillip Martin
May Day is an ancient holiday. But nobody knows
who invented it. It's that old.
Some people believe the ancient Romans
"invented" the May Pole to honor their gods.
To honor the deities of
new life and flowers,
legend suggests the
ancient Romans cut
down a tree, decorated
it with ribbons, then
danced around it. This
was the beginning of
the May Pole.
It could be true. It would certainly be in character!
For all the ancient cultures, the coming of summer
was cause for celebration. It meant food could be
gathered and seeds could be planted.
As part of their
celebration, some
ancient people gathered
flowers and put them
on window ledges to
keep out pesky fairies.
Others filled baskets
with gifts and
greenery to give to
friends and loved
ones.
The ancient Celts built bonfires, with nine different
types of wood, then leaped over the flames for luck.
In the Bavarian regions of Germany, people played
tricks on each other!
Yet, for all its
appearance of
merriment, for
most ancient
cultures, May Day
was a very serious
celebration. Many
rituals were
designed, not to
thank, but to
please and to
appease the gods.
It would not be until the autumn festivals, when
the crops were safely harvested, that these
ancient people would heave a sigh of relief.
Today, May Day
is celebrated as
a workers
holiday, a day off
from work with
pay in just about
every country in
the world except
for the United
States.
The United States does not recognize May Day as a
federal holiday. In the United States workers are
honored on Labor Day, which occurs each year on
the first Monday in September.
For more FREE
PowerPoints,
Visit PPPST.COM