May Day

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May Day

May Day first day of May. Its celebration probably originated in the spring fertility festivals of India and Egypt. The festival of the Roman goddess of spring, Flora, was celebrated from Apr. 28 to May 3. In medieval England the chief feature of the celebration of May Day was the Maypole; this was decorated with flowers and streamers, the loose ends of which were held by dancers, who encircled the pole, weaving intricate patterns as they passed each other in the dance. These dances are still performed for exhibition purposes in England and the United States. The Second Socialist International in 1889 designated May Day as the holiday for labor, and since that time it has been the occasion for demonstrations, parades, and speeches among socialists and communists.

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"May Day." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 30 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"May Day." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (November 30, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-MayDay.html

"May Day." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Retrieved November 30, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-MayDay.html

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May Day

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | 2009 | © The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English 2009, originally published by Oxford University Press 2009. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

May Day • n. May 1, celebrated in many countries as a traditional springtime festival or as an international day honoring workers.

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"May Day." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 30 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"May Day." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (November 30, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-mayday010.html

"May Day." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved November 30, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-mayday010.html

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