May 1 is popularly known as a socialist holiday to celebrate worker solidarity. But its true and much older roots are found in pagan fertility rituals around the world. Generally speaking, this time of year cultures that followed the old ways celebrated the coming of spring and the fecundy of nature. It is when the Goddess and her consort, the God, representing the Female and Male energies of the world have sexual union. Their devotees acknowledged this with many sexual unions of their own.
The Celtic peoples referred to this holiday as Beltane. It is one of intense sexuality, sensuality, delight in all things beautiful. The most famous symbol of this holiday is the beribboned May Pole:
The phallic pole is inserted into the feminine, vulvic earth- the sexual union. May Day orgies were immensely popular during these times and continued for several centuries even after the advent of Christianity, if the invectives against the practice by the Church Fathers and other “moral paragons” are any clue. Celebrating May Day can include planting flowers, trees, bushes or decorating with them, taking delight in the beauty of Nature and, especially, having your own sexual union with the Goddess or God of your choice.
