Island Life Magazine Ltd April / May 2016 | Page 55

FEATURE

festivities such as Morris dancing on the village
green, archery contests and exhibitions of strength
– and then would come the highlight of the day,
with the crowning of the May Queen, who took
no part in the games or dancing, but had to sit in
a flower-decked throne and watch her ‘subjects’
enjoying themselves.
The theme of all these celebrations was fertility,
and literally the ‘rising of the sap’.
The plant most associated with this festival is the
Hawthorn, whose creamy-white scented flowers
have long been known as May Blossom, and are a
welcome messenger of warmer months ahead.
In fact it’s believed that the old saying “Never
cast a clout till May is out” – meaning don’t put all
your woollies away until the end of May – actually
means don’t stash them away until the May
blossom comes out.
These lovely blossoms were used to make
garlands and posies as part of the outdoor
celebrations – but curiously it’s always been
considered unlucky to take May blossom indoors –
a superstition which is found more widely than for
any other plant in the British Isles.
There are many theories for why the blossom
might be considered unlucky, but most have to
do with its heavy sweet scent, which includes a
particular chemical produced by the human body
after death!
So, at a time of celebrating sunshine, revelry and
fertility, perhaps it’s best to keep the May blossom
strictly out of doors!
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