May Day Quotes, Jokes, Riddles, Fun Facts and Captions

Read the frequently asked questions below to learn more about this day and its different observances.

What is May Day?

May Day is a public holiday celebrated on May 1 or the first Monday of the month. It has been celebrated for centuries as part of the ancient festival of spring in Europe.

It can also be associated with the Floralia, the festival of flora, of the Roman Republic era. Over time, this developed to include various customs and soon spread to the Americas, Asia, and Africa.

See our Cinco de Mayo Wishes and Greetings page.

How to celebrate May Day?

Although the day’s celebrations vary worldwide, some common observances include dancing, singing, and parades. Parties with cakes are also often planned, and bonfires are also standard practices. Because it is meant to celebrate the beginning of spring, many people also plant trees.

Bulgarians also perform Irminden, while Estonians celebrate Walpurgis Night. Similarly, carnival-style festivals are held in Finland, which are considered the fourth biggest celebration after Christmas, Midsummer, and New Year’s Eve.

In Germany, Walpurgisnacht is celebrated, and Ireland is famous for celebrating it as the feast of Beltane. If you are Serbian, you should know about Prvomajski uranak, and May Day is celebrated as Los Mayos in Spain.

Fun Facts

In Ancient Greece, they celebrated the Festival of Chloris, the Goddess of spring.
The Ancient Romans celebrated the Goddess Flora on this day.
Morris Dancers of England wear hats with flowers, ankle bells, and suspenders. During the May Day Fair, they stomp their feet, wave handkerchiefs, and bang sticks together. “Cumberland Square” is one of the dances.
A Maypole, which was often made from old ships’ masts, has been standing in Inkwell, England, since 1894.
Considering them immoral, the Church banned the May Day festivities in 1640 but brought them back by Charles II four years later.
Some believe this was the last day for the fairies to return to earth.
Some say washing the face in May morning’s dew can beautify the skin.
In Italy, many recognize May Day as the happiest day of the year.

Spring Jokes

What did the tree say to spring?
What a re-leaf!
Why is spring a great time to start a gardening business?
Because it’s the season when you can rake in the cash.
What did the summer say at the beginning of spring?
Help! I’m going to fall!
Can February like March?
No, but April May!
Why are trees very forgiving?
Because in the Fall, they “Let It Go,” and by May Day, they “turn over a new leaf”.
What do you get when you plant kisses?
Tu-lips (two-lips).

Riddles

What do you get if you cross a sheepdog with a rose?
A collie-flower!
What did the bee say to the flower in May?
Hello honey!
In what season is it best to go on a trampoline?
Springtime.
What month of the year is the shortest?
May (only three letters).
Why do doctors hate popular Instagram accounts that only post in the spring?
Because they’re seasonal influencers!
A townie was looking for the May Day Fair; he stopped and asked Jethro. ‘Will this road take me to the May Day Fair?’ ‘Oh no,’ said Jethro. ‘You’ll have to go by yourself!’
My winter fat is finally gone!
Now I’ve got spring rolls.

May Quotes

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
If we had no winter, May Day would not be so pleasant.
Anne Bradstreet
The world’s favorite season is the spring. All things seem possible in May.
Edwin Way Teale
As full of spirit as the month of May and as gorgeous as the sun in midsummer.
William Shakespeare
You can cut all the flowers, but you cannot keep spring from coming.
Pablo Neruda
Among the changing months, May stands confessed the sweetest and in fairest colors dressed.
James Thomson
No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn.
Hal Borland
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 Quotations

Also known as May Eve or Walpurgis Night, May Day happens at the beginning of May. It celebrates the height of spring and the flowering of life. The Goddess manifests as the May Queen and Flora. God emerges as the May King and Jack in the Green. The Maypole dance represents their unity, with the pole itself being God and ribbons that encompass it, the Goddess. Colors are the Rainbow spectrum. Beltane is a festival of flowers, fertility, sensuality, and delight.
Selena Fox
Hebe’s here, May is here! The air is fresh and sunny, and the miser-bees are busy hoarding golden honey.
Thomas Bailey Aldrich
I thought that spring must last forevermore; for I was young and loved, and it was the festival of May Day.
Vera Brittain

Instagram Captions

Welcoming May with a whole spirit.
Another year, another May.
May Day made my day.
Wishing everyone a beautiful life, just like the buds of May!
May is in its full bloom.
Happy Spring to all the people around the world.
May this day always come with bright, happy moments.
May is nature’s way of saying, Let’s party!
Making my day as bright as the flowers of May.
May Day brings bright flowers and wide smiles.
Here come new hopes in the form of May.
Send me pretty flowers to wish you a happy May.
Making this day bright with scented flowers and happy moments.
Wish me a happy Spring with a bunch of flowers.
The first blooms of spring always make my heart sing.

Hashtags

#MayDay
#MayDayParade
#SpringTime
#MayDayFair

By Michael O’Halloran

Michael O’Halloran founded Greeting Card Poet in 2014 and has worked as its publisher and editor ever since. He has co-authored four books on kids’ trivia and four on coaching. Previously, Michael was the president of Magnetic Poetry. He has invented and brought to market over 75 new gift and toy products, most of which involve wordplay. Mike is married and a father of four daughters.

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