May Day...

Today is an important day.

In many countries, May 1 is associated with the International Worker's Day. But it is not only that. As a day of celebration, the holiday has ancient origins, and it can relate to many customs that have survived into modern times.

The earliest May Day celebrations appeared in pre-Christian, with the festival of Flora the Roman Goddess of Flowers, the Walpurgis Night celebrations of the Germanic countries. Many pagan celebrations were abandoned or Christianized during the process of conversion in Europe. A more secular version of May Day continues to be observed in Europe and America. In this form, May Day may be best known for its tradition of dancing the Maypole and crowning of the Queen of the May. Various Neopagan groups celebrate reconstructed (to varying degrees) versions of these customs on May 1.

Countries that celebrate May 1 include Greece (since May Day corresponds with the peak of the flower season, flower shows and festivals are common), Ireland, United Kingdom (where in St. Andrews, Scotland, some of the students gather on the beach late on April 30 and run into the North Sea at sunrise on May Day, occasionally naked. This is accompanied by torchlit processions and much elated celebration), France, Germany, and the United States (where in Hawaii it is also known as Lei Day).

Here in the Philippines, today is a national holiday. We call it "Labor Day" or "Araw ng Mangagawa". Today we salute the workers that make our nation move.

In a alot of provinces all over the country, May 1 is the start of "Flores de Mayo"which signals alot of fiestas celebrated in this month.... (Pista'y Dayat, Alinsangan Boa-Boahan, Pahiyas, Tabanog, etc.)

In the neighboring island provinces of Bohol and Siquijor, this day is very significant.

In Tagbilaran City, Bohol, today they celebrate the City Fiesta.

In the town of Larena, Siquijor, it is the start of the 3-day fiesta celebration culminating on May 3.

There are alot of things that is important about May 1 that is celebrated all over the world.

But the most significant thing about this day for me?

It starts a month long recollection and reflection of beautiful things in the past and wondrous things in the future...

So what is for the present??? YOU KNOW...