Henry's Holidays: A Mirthful May Day Quiz

Answer: Pastoral Summer Season

At first we pages didn't know what to do! To have My Lady speaking of pagan holidays? Then we agreed. The bishop isn't here, we all love a good story so much, and we all look forward to spring! Some winters can be very cold and bleak. For the ancient people, Beltane marked the beginning of summer when the cattle were taken to summer pasture; rituals were performed to protect them from harm. My Lady says that many of our May Day customs originated with this celebration; not only that, but it is a good time to let the workers on the manor take a break, have fun, and eat hearty food. We pages like that too!

Answer: Goddess of flowers

I can't believe it! Is My Lady blushing? Something about this story seems to be making her - well - uncomfortable. So Flora was the goddess of flowers, and the ancient Romans had a spring festival where they released hares and goats, viewed theatrical performances, and held contests. It sounds like fun to me! I would like to have seen a tightrope-walking elephant!

Editor's Note: What My Lady didn't tell the pages was that prostitutes were allowed to participate in the event, dancing naked and staging mock gladiatorial combats. As you may have guessed, the hares and goats were symbols of fertility and lustiness.

Answer: Bonfire

The bonfire is an activity that everyone looks forward to attending. There is dancing, feasting, and story-telling into the wee hours of the morning. It is believed this fire, along with the smoke and ashes, have healing and protective properties, and people will jump through the flames, and walk with their cattle around the fire. Rubbing ashes from the fires on the body is also done. We will douse all of our household fires and relight them with flame from the bonfire.

Answer: Gather green plants and flowers.

It is a tradition on the estate of my Lord, the Earl of Warwick, for young men and women to gather greenery and flowers from the woods at dawn on May Day for making wreaths and garlands. Men sometimes deliver a decorated tree to the home of a girl they like.

Some of the greenery, such as primroses, are made into wreaths are believed to help keep away evil spirits. Baskets of flowers are also made and delivered to the homes of friends and family.

Answer: Dew

Many believe that washing with the morning dew on May Day will not only beautify the skin, but also bring youth to the bather. People especially hope that the dew will remove pimples and freckles! This tradition is one that apparently was borrowed from the ancient Beltane festival.

Answer: Green Jack

Also called Green George or Jack-in-the-Green, the Green Man represents the spirits of trees and plants. There is usually a young man dressed in greenery who leads the festival procession. It is believed that if Green Jack is dunked in water, there will be plenty of rain to make the meadows green. I have heard that the Green Man is friends with the fairies who live in the forest; we call them "Greenies".

Many times Green Jack is depicted in art (even in church architecture) as a head with leaves.

Answer: Birch decorated with ribbons

After the tallest tree is found, it is stripped of all of the branches, except at the top. It becomes the maypole, decorated with streamers, as well as flowers; we then dance and sing around the maypole. As young men and women dance around the maypole, they wind the ribbons around each other, hoping to become entangled with their future love.

The pages all agree that we won't be doing that!

Answer: Robin Hood and Maid Marian

My Lady explained to us that many believe Maid Marian is a personification of the Virgin Mary. She is portrayed as a shepherdess and as the Queen of May Day. During the May Day festivities we will also see plays that feature Robin and Marian. Robin is generally portrayed as being a devout Christian, and a friend of the humble people, serving as their champion against the corrupt and wealthy nobles and churchmen. With all the stories of May Day past it makes sense that people would love to retell legends and folktales about Robin and Marian.

Answer: Archery

There are many games played during the May Day festivities, but we pages agree that the archery competition is our favorite! Of course this is reminiscent of stories told about Robin Hood's love of the contest. The winner is awarded a laurel wreath.

Editor's Note: After the English Archery Law was passed in 1252, it was mandatory for all men between the ages of 15 and 60 to equip themselves with the bow and arrow. The English success with this weapon in battle is legendary. At the Battle of Crecy, during the Hundred Years War, it is said that 2000 French knights died while the English, protected by their long bowmen, suffered only 50 casualties.

Answer: Moors

The "moreys dauncers" wear costumes that are decorated with ribbons and have bells attached to their knees. Sometimes they dress as animals, like deer with antlers, or they may dress as one of Robin Hood's Merry Men! One of the dancers carries an inflated pig bladder on the end of a stick. The young ladies hope he will hit them on the head with it - they think it will bring good luck!

Editor's Note: Very little information survives today about English folk dances. The first mention of what has become the "Morris dance" dates to 1448. It is believed that dancers blacked their faces as a reference to the Moors, but it could have also been a reference to miners or disguised beggars.