Happy May Day.
Happy Lei Day.
Aloha to you.
I'm making a lei,
that's what I do.
When I was a little girl to celebrate May Day I'd make a cone from paper and put a handle on the top. Then I'd put flowers in the cone and hang it on my neighbors' front door. I'd ring the doorbell and run away yelling, "Happy May Day."
Then Russia claimed May 1, as their independence day and the USSR would celebrate with big parades featuring all the tanks and cannons and soldiers marching. It made the day all about war and showing might to me. I didn't like the day I celebrated with flowers becoming about military might.
Then a few years ago I discovered that Hawaii celebrates May First with leis. On the Island of Kauai today there is a lei competition for children. The lei doesn't have to be made of flowers. Leis are made with sea shells and even ribbons and beads. So now I enjoy celebrating Lei Day on the first of May.
Can you try writing your own poem today that includes a flower? Have fun writing your poem.
There is a lot to be happy about today. So let's celebrate with the Poetry Friday Round Up. Mary Lee Hahn is hosting us this week on her blog A Year of Reading.
Read the "Comments" on May Lee's blog to find all the links.
Happy Lei Day, Joy! May 1 is indeed a very special day in Hawaii . I looked forward to it every year while growing up. We got to wear aloha attire to school, participated in a program (each grade did a special dance), and of course wore lei. Do you know the May Day is Lei Day song?
ReplyDeleteI'd love to hear you sing the Lei Day song one year. I submitted a Lei Day poem for the CELEBRATIONS anthology. It didn't make it into the book, in fact there isn't even a May Day poem in the book. What is with that? Maybe there needs to be a Poetry Friday Anthology for MORE CELEBRATIONS. Boys' Day and Cinco de Mayo, two other May holidays aren't in there and Poem on your Pillow Day, May 5th didn't see print either. Can you tell what month I was born in?
DeleteJama, do you have a picture of you in your aloha attire at school you could share with us?
Happy May Day, Joy. One of my students has been studying May Day, & taught the class today how to do a May Pole with ribbons & everything. She would love your post! And I'll tell her about lei day too!
ReplyDeleteShare the holiday spirit with more celebrations. I wish I could have been there to see your students weave the May Pole.
DeleteHope you had a Happy May Day and Happy Lei Day! I am glad you're able to celebrate with fun again!
ReplyDeleteLike you Linda, I try to celebrate every day. I must go check your blog post to see what other holidays are this month.
DeleteThank you for reminding me of my childhood May Days! We filled the cones with candy and delivered them to friends' houses. It was like a reverse Halloween -- the candy came to you!
ReplyDeleteCandy--I like that, except where I live it is so hot that chocolate would melt, so we would need to be careful about what candy we used. I might try this and see what happens. I'll keep you posted.
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