The earliest May Day celebrations appeared in pre-Christian times, with the festival of Flora, the Roman goddess of flowers. The day was a traditional summer holiday in many pre-Christian European pagan cultures. While February 1 was the first day of Spring, May 1 was the first day of summer Traditions…. The most famous tradition was a dancing around maypole. • Every English village had a Maypole. • People celebrate May Day by dancing and singing around it. • Also part of the celebration was the crowning of a May Queen. • She was chosen among the pretty girls of the village. • The dancing is accompanied by an accordion player and a melodeon or fiddle player. • Dancers wear different clothes depending on the part of the country in which they dance. • There are 6 or 8 dancers arranged in two lines or in a circle facing each other. • They carry white handkerchiefs or short sticks. Some dancers have bell-pads tied at their knees. SAINT PATRICK’S DAY. • Celebrated each year on March 17th • Celebration to honor the Saint Patrick • A national holiday for the Irish people • Also celebrated in Canada, UK, Australia, USA and New Zealand Saint Patrick was a Christian missionary and is considered the patron saint of Ireland. It’s believed that he brought Christianity to Ireland. SHAMROCK • A three-leaf clover. • Irish have considered shamrocks as good-luck symbols LEPRECHAUN • An Irish fairy. • Looks like a small, old man. • Often dressed like a shoemaker. • They are aloof and unfriendly. • Live alone, and pass the time making shoes. • They have a hidden pot of gold. GREEN • The shamrock is green. • The color of spring. • Ireland is green all year round.. Traditions • People go to church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon. • They eat Irish bacon and cabbage and they drink black beer. • Some rivers are dyed green. • There are parades in many Irish cities and towns.

1. May DayMay Day
By Elvina Tijūnaitytė Ic.

2. The origin of the May DayThe origin of the May Day
• The Romans had a festival too, it wasThe Romans had a festival too, it was
Flora.Flora.
• May Day has a pagan connection.May Day has a pagan connection.
• It marks the end of winter.It marks the end of winter.

3. TraditionsTraditions
• Dancing and singing around MaypoleDancing and singing around Maypole
• Crowning a May QueenCrowning a May Queen
• Morris dancingMorris dancing

4. The tradition of MaypoleThe tradition of Maypole
• Every English villageEvery English village
had a Maypole.had a Maypole.
• People celebrate MayPeople celebrate May
Day by dancing andDay by dancing and
singing around thesinging around the
Maypole.Maypole.

5. May QueenMay Queen
• Part of thePart of the
celebration wascelebration was
the crowning ofthe crowning of
a May Queen.a May Queen.
• She wasShe was
chosen amongchosen among
the pretty girlsthe pretty girls
of the village.of the village.

6. Morris danceMorris dance
• The dancing is accompanied by anThe dancing is accompanied by an
accordion player and a melodeon or fiddleaccordion player and a melodeon or fiddle
player.player.
• Dancers wear different clothes dependingDancers wear different clothes depending
on the part of the country in which theyon the part of the country in which they
dance.dance.
• There are 6 or 8 dancers arranged in twoThere are 6 or 8 dancers arranged in two
lines or in a circle facing each other.lines or in a circle facing each other.

8. St.St. Patrick’s DayPatrick’s Day
• Celebrated each year on March 17thCelebrated each year on March 17th
• Celebration to honor the Saint PatrickCelebration to honor the Saint Patrick
• A national holiday for the Irish peopleA national holiday for the Irish people
• Also celebrated in Canada, UK, Australia,Also celebrated in Canada, UK, Australia,
USA and New ZealandUSA and New Zealand

9. Who was St. Patrick?Who was St. Patrick?
Saint Patrick was a
Christian missionary
and is considered
the patron saint of
Ireland. Believed
that he brought
Christianity to
Ireland.

11. A long time ago there lived a priest inA long time ago there lived a priest in
Ireland. His name was Patrick.Ireland. His name was Patrick.

12. In Ireland thereIn Ireland there
lived many snakeslived many snakes
too. People weretoo. People were
afraid of snakes.afraid of snakes.

13. Patrick wanted toPatrick wanted to
help. How couldhelp. How could
they get rid ofthey get rid of
the snakes?the snakes?

14. He took a drum and played it loudly – and allHe took a drum and played it loudly – and all
the snakes slid away. Patrick walked all overthe snakes slid away. Patrick walked all over
the island, until the last snake was gone.the island, until the last snake was gone.

15. The people were very happy. They calledThe people were very happy. They called
Patrick a saint. Today you can't find anyPatrick a saint. Today you can't find any
snakes in Ireland.snakes in Ireland.

17. ShamrockShamrock
• A three-leaf cloverA three-leaf clover
• Irish have considered shamrocks as good-Irish have considered shamrocks as good-
luck symbolsluck symbols

18. Leprechaun Leprechaun
• An Irish fairyAn Irish fairy
• Looks like a small, old manLooks like a small, old man
• Often dressed like a shoemakerOften dressed like a shoemaker
• They are aloof and unfriendlyThey are aloof and unfriendly
• Live alone, and pass the time making shoesLive alone, and pass the time making shoes
• They have a hidden pot of goldThey have a hidden pot of gold

19. GreenGreen
• The shamrock isThe shamrock is green.green.
• The color of spring.The color of spring.
• Ireland isIreland is greengreen all yearall year roundround....

20. TraditionsTraditions
• People go to church in the morning andPeople go to church in the morning and
celebrate in the afternoon.celebrate in the afternoon.
• They eat Irish bacon and cabbage andThey eat Irish bacon and cabbage and
they drink black beer.they drink black beer.

21. • Some rivers are dyed green.Some rivers are dyed green.
• There are parades in many Irish cities andThere are parades in many Irish cities and
towns.towns.