May Day

maypole, originally uploaded by Lizzie~Belle.

I got up at 4:30 this morning to go to the May Day celebration on the Charles river near Harvard Square in Cambridge this morning (I had stayed over with nearby friends). Although it was overcast, the rain held off, and it was pleasantly warm instead of bone-chillingly cold like last year.

Local Morris groups host the event, dancing and singing to traditional tunes. They dance the maypole, then pack up and do it all again over on the quad.

Every year, the Harvard ballroom dancers are just coming back from an all-night ball, and gather on the footbridge to watch. Then they line up, and we all shake hands and wish each other a happy May. Of course, afterward it occurred to me that that was probably not the best idea, what with the swine flu scare going on!



On the way over to the quad, we found some lilacs coming into bloom. It's a fun day to get up early and wear flower garlands, and celebrate spring.



We usually take a picture under this magnolia tree, but it was already past its prime.



After following the revelers to the quad, a bunch of us went to the S&S for breakfast and strawberry mimosas.



Happy May, and Happy Beltane to those who celebrate!