PETERSON’S MAGAZINE.
MAY-DAY IN THE OLDEN TIME.
BY EMILY H. MAY.
One of the oldest and most poetical holidays of England was that of the first of May. When it first originated, research has failed to discover, though it is probably the remasat of some Pagan festival in commemoration of the opening of spring: but we ace its history clearly for at least five hundred years back.
The popularity of this holiday was at its height pro- bably in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. Before day: break the villagers were accustomed to set forth to the woods, where they felled the tallest and straightoet tree they could find, and bore it in triumph home, for a May-pole. Sometimes it was dragged from the ‘woods by oxen garlanded with flowers, and accompanied by music; while mon and maidens, bearing green boughs, swelled the procession. Arrived at the village the tall pole was reared on the green, and hong with garlands of flowers. ‘The fronts of the houses were frequently dressed in green boughs. Arbors of the same material were also erected, a bower being placed at their head, higher than the others: this, within and without, was decorated with flowers, and set apart for the Queen of May, who ‘was, generally, some peseant girl, selected by the ‘unanimous consent of her companions, Sometimes the daoghter of the Lord of the Manor presided as May Queen, and the whole family issued from their old ancestral hall to join in the May-day games, ‘Then there were rustic youths dressed up in the costume of Robin Hood and his merry men, and Maid Marian; re-calling the daya of old, when these daring outlaws were the dread and pride of Sherwood Forest, plundering the rich to feed the poor; and chasing the dun deer through the thickets, in spite of Norman keepers and cruel forest-laws.
Thomas Millar, the basket-maker, gives a deserip- tion copied from an old chronicler of « May-day in the reign of Henry the Eighth. ‘The merry monarch, once rode out with bis queen, and &@ whole concourse of nobles, one fine May morning, to the top of Shootors-hill, above Greenwich, and there they were received by a large troop of men, amounting to about two hundred, who were all dressed as foresters, in a costume of Kendal green, and headed by a captain, whom they called Robin Hood, These May-day foresters, dressed up for the occasion, amused their royal and noble visitors by showing them their skill in archery; and when this was over each blew his bugle-horn, and conducted the king and his train into @ wood under the brow of the hill, where a large arbor was erected of green boughs, consisting of a hall and two chamber, all decorated with Gowers and aweet herbs; and here a mighty feast stood ready prepared, quite in keeping with the scene, consisting of venison, venison-pasties, and a copious supply of the blood-red wine, for such, the old ballads say, often formed the forest-banquet of Robin Hood and his merry men.
On their return from this woodland banquet, they were met by two ladies, richly attired, who rode in 8 beautiful chariot, drawn by five horses; and on the back of each horse was also seated a lady, one of whom wes called the Ledy of Showers; another, the Lady of Green; the third, the Lady of Vegetation; the fourth, of Pleasure; and the fifth, of Sweet Odor. Of the two who occupied the chariot, one was called the Lady of May, and the other the Lady of Flowera: acd they entertained the assembled company with songs, a6 they returned to Greenwich. Such was an English May-day in the reign of Henry the Eighth.
In bringing home the May-pole, sometimes as many as forty yoke of oxen, each having a sweet nosegay tied to the tip of his horns, were employed. The pole too was covered al! over, from top to bottom, with flowers and sweet herbs, bound round with strings; ‘were, at equal distances, cross bars were fastened ‘upon it, to the end of which were attached garlan and thus decorated, it was hoisted up, anid the leaping and dancing and joyous shouts of the assembled multitude.
Even in London the festival was kept up with spirit. Any one who bad passed along Cornhill, on May-day, a few centuries ago, would have seen green arbors erected there, and huge caken boughs hanging over the street, and the milk-maids, and all the merry old citizens, with their wives, daughters, maids, and apprentices, congregated about the May- pole, many of them dressed in old fanciful costumes, and giving themeelves op to all the fun and jollity of May. But time has not preserved even the names of
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