Sunday is May Day, and the weather forecast calls for clear, sunny skies with a high of 66 degrees. Heaven!
Reader Kimberly C dropped us a note to let us know that her Morris dance troupe, The Sound and Fury Morris Dancers will be greeting the sunrise on Sunday morning at Gas Works Park. You may remember, this is the same group who Wassailed their way around Meridian Park back in January. I’ll let her explain the May Day dance:
Morris Dancing at sunrise on May Day is a centuries-old English tradition. We like to think that we help prepare the earth for a fertile year, with plenty of rain and warm sun to bring in bountiful crops, particularly hops.
Sound and Fury will be dancing with the North by Northwest Morris Dancers and the Misty City Morris Dancers. Additionally, the Village Carolers will be serenading the crowd with some fine English May Carols.
We are generally joined by upwards of 100 spectators and would love for Wallyhood readers to be among them! Dress warmly, grab a coffee and head to Gas Works from 5:30-7:00 on Sunday morning.
If getting up at the crack of dawn on a Sunday morning isn’t your thing, Tara Katz–owner of Tara’s Tots and Fremont Community School–is hosting a May Day celebration on Monday, May 2 at Meridian Park, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. They’ll have face painting, flower crowns, Maypole dancing, and fun. The event is free and families should bring a blanket for sitting on, a picnic lunch, and a bunch of flowers, for making May crowns.
Happy May Day, Wallingford. Or, as they said in Old English: Happy Þrimilki-mónaþ!