Summer

That beautiful season the Summer!
Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light;
and the landscape Lay as if new created
in all the freshness of childhood.

~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow ~

WELCOME TO THE JERSEY CATS EMPORIUM
AND OUR DANCING AROUND
THE MAY POLE FOR MAY DAY!!!!!

May Pole

The History of May Day:

The tradition of the ancient Roman and Druid holiday of May Day has endured for centuries. It has been a celebration of spring turning into the pleasures of summer. Traditionally, a "Maypole" was the focus of the festivals. Even today the Maypole is used in the replications of old-time festivals. The Maypole is a tall pole in which ribbons are woven around by groups of dancers to make unique designs and patterns.

Gathering flowers and branches became a tradition and "bringing in the May" became a popular activity on May 1. The giving of baskets became part of the festivities later in the evolution of May Day. Today baskets are often made by little children, filled with candy or flowers and then placed on people's doorsteps or tied to the door handle, as they ring the doorbell and dash away before they are caught. You can participate in this activity yourself by making a special May Day basket or using any small basket to fill with flowers to give to a friend.

Fill a small basket with freshly gathered Spring blossoms. Tuck a small vase or something that will hold water into the bottom of the basket and fill the basket with a selection of flowers. Tie a bow or ribbon streamers onto the handle and fasten it to the door handle of a friend.

More History

In medieval England, people would celebrate the start of spring by going out to the country or woods—"going a-maying"—and gathering greenery and flowers, or "bringing in the may." This was described in "The Court of Love" (often attributed to Chaucer, but not actually written by him) in 1561:

And furth goth all the Court, both most and lest, To feche the floures fressh, and braunche and blome; And namly, hawthorn brought both page and grome. With fressh garlandes, partie blewe and whyte, And thaim rejoysen in their greet delyt.

Another English tradition is the maypole. Some towns had permanent maypoles that would stay up all year; others put up a new one each May. In any event, the pole would be hung with greenery and ribbons, brightly painted, and otherwise decorated, and served as a central point for the festivities.

May Day was also a time for morris dancing and other dances, often around the maypole. In the 19th century, people began to braid the maypole with ribbons by weaving in and out in the course of a dance. Other later traditions include making garlands for children and the crowning of the May Queen.

floral bar

Here is a May Day Poem we found:

Come, let us go, while we are in our prime,
And take the harmless folly of the time!
We shall grow old apace, and die
Before we know our liberty.
Our life is short, and our days run
As fast away as does the sun.
And, as a vapor or a drop of rain,
Once lost, can ne'er be found again,
So when you or I are made
A fable, song, or fleeting shade,
All love, all liking, all delight
Lies drowned with us in endless night.
Then while time serves and we are but playing,
Come, my love, come, let's go a-Maying.

floral bar

More May Poles

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Here are some photos of us three kitty cats:

Here is a cute new photo of Buster in
his "Bird House"!!! Cute, huh?

Here is Lady on the Porch
EATING her favorite "Grass"!

What a cutie!
And Here is one of little Cutie Pie, Simba!
Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

And Here are the 3 of us Buster, Lady and Simba
with Our Meowmie Aurora!!!!!!!
We love you, Meowmie

Here are the words to the May Day song....

See our Maypole filled with flowers,
From above, the blossoms tower,
Fragrance rich, and perfume rare,
Pretty scents that fill the air.
Violets blue and daisies white,
You are here for our delight;
Daffodils and roses, too,
Pretty flow'rs for me and you!
Tell us what the flowers say,
As we sing and dance and play.
Tell us what the flowers say,
On this special day!
This is what the flowers say,
As we sing and dance and play.
This is what the flowers say:
It is bright May day!

"Maying Song"

Happy May Day - May 1st, 2007







Some Graphics thanks to:

Artwork by Walter Crane , 1845-1915
"Summer, 1895"