May is here! It’s unbelievable how fast this year is going. It seemed like only yesterday we were ringing in the New Year and now we’re almost halfway through 2015. May 1, also called May Day comes charged with a lot of festivities celebrating both spring and workers.
May Day commemorates the struggle for fair labor practices and the Haymarket Affair of 1886, when US Labor Unions gathered in a general nationwide strike supporting an eight-hour work day. More than a dozen people were killed after a three-day strike and rally. This event is observed on May 1st each year and it’s known as “International Worker’s Day” which in many countries is Labor Day.
May Day also marks the halfway point between the first day of spring and the summer solstice. Festivals, dances, and rituals related to agriculture and fertility were practiced by many Germanic and European countries in ancient times. Roman Catholics celebrate May as Mary's month, and May Day is a celebration of the Virgin Mary.
In honor of this month, when the weather starts clearing up, the last traces of winter completely fade, and nature is in full bloom, we’ve gathered 10 inspirational quotes to start this month feeling great, inspired and happy.
“Ah! my heart is weary waiting, Waiting for the May: Waiting for the pleasant rambles Where the fragrant hawthorn brambles, Where the woodbine alternating, Scent the dewy way; Ah! my heart is weary, waiting, Waiting for the May." -- Denis Florence McCarthy
“May, queen of blossoms, and fulfilling flowers, With what pretty music Shall we charm the hours? Wilt thou have pipe and reed, Blown in the open mead? Or to the lute give heed In the green bowers.” -- Lord Edward Thurlow
“Sweet May hath come to love us, Flowers, trees, their blossoms don; And through the blue heavens above us The very clouds move on.” -- Heinrich Heine
“All furnished, all in arms; All plum'd like estridges that with the wind Bated like eagles having lately bathed; Glittering in golden coats like images; As full of spirit as the month of May And gorgeous as the sun at midsummer; Wanton as youthful goats, wild as young bulls.” -- William Shakespeare
“Among the changing months, May stands confest the sweetest, and in fairest colors dressed.” -- James Thomson
“Hebe's here, May is here! The air is fresh and sunny; and the miser-bees are busy Hoarding golden honey.” -- Thomas Bailey Aldrich
“In the under-wood and the over-wood there is murmur and trill this day, For every bird is in lyric mood, And the wind will have its way.” -- Clinton Scollard
“No doubt they rose up early to observe the rite of May; and, hearing our intent, Came here in grace of our solemnity.” -- William Shakespeare
“There's her cousin, an she were not possessed with a fury, exceeds her as much in beauty as the first of May doth the last of December.” -- William Shakespeare
“Oh! That we two were Maying Down the stream of the soft spring breeze; Like children with violets playing, In the shade of the whispering trees.” -- Charles Kingsley
© 2024 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.