May Day

Happy May 1st!

Mayday was celebrated in the medieval times but began as a spring festival. The Romans began the celebration as a festival to honor Flora, the goddess of flowers.

In the Christian church, May was seen as the month of Mary, and flower bouquets were brought to churches to honor her.

Mayday is also known for Maypole dances. The Maypole dance is a type of folk dance where dancers circle around a pole. Sometimes long ribbons are attached to the pole and each dancer takes hold of a colorful ribbon.

Also during Mayday festivities, a Queen of May is usually crowned. May 1 originally marked the first day of summer. June 21st was known as midsummer.

In 16th century France, King Charles IX was given a lily of the valley as a good luck charm. He was so pleased with the idea that he began presenting lilies of the valley to all of the ladies of the court. The tradition of giving lilies of the valley on May 1 continues in France today.

May 1 is also the day celebrating workers in many European countries. It is similar to our Labor Day in the United States. In many of these countries today is a national holiday and people celebrate those in the work force.

Meet Adele, Daughter of William the Conquerer

Adele was the daughter of William of Normandy (also known as William the Conquerer) and Matilda of Flanders. William eventually conquered England and became King there.

Adele was born around the year 1062 in Normandy, France. There are some sources that say William and Mathilda had 10 children, but others say nine. Because birthdates for girls were not always recorded, it is hard to be sure.

It is possible that her family spent some time in England after her father became king.

Adele was probably around four years old when her father left to invade England and conquer King Harold.

The invasion is depicted in a tapestry that was commissioned in 1077 by Adele's uncle, the Bishop Odo. It is known as the Bayeux Tapestry and is currently on display in a museum in Bayeux, France. It was more than likely made in a monastery in England. It was always a French traditional belief that the Queen was responsible for the production of the tapestry.

Adele was also able to read and was taught by various teachers. One of the first copies of the St. Alban Psalter was made especially for her. Many young girls and women read every day from their book of hours.

Adele lived to be 70-75 years-old, while one of her brothers lived to be 74. Very few people during Adele's time lived to be that old.

To find out more about Adele, visit http://www.medievalmaidens.net.