May

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It’s early May and spring has finally taken hold. Many of the migratory birds have returned from their winter homes, the crocus have come and gone, and the trees are starting to show their leaves.  

In the Northern Hemisphere, May sits in the middle of astronomical spring (March 20-June 20) and near the end of meteorological spring (March 01 – May 31). Swifts return, ferns unfurl & lilac perfumes the air, bluebells, gorse & buttercups carpet the earth & the mayflowers blossom on the hawthorn, pronouncing the end of frosts.

Roman May honors the fertility goddesses Maia. Named after the Greek goddess of the same name.
For the Anglo-Saxons, May was thrimlice, or “the month of three milkings,” when livestock were often so well fed on fresh spring grass that they could be milked three times a day.
Also known as pasture month. Flower month and Month of Joy.

Taurus & Venus. Venus, the daughter of Jupiter and Dione, who was at first, as a Latin goddess, associated with growth and the cultivation of fields and gardens. With Feronia and Flora she symbolised spring and fruitfulness.” This grew to include fruitfulness of humans as well as the green spaces around our homes. She later also became associated with love, as a Roman version of the Greek goddess Aphrodite. Although it is for love that she is best known today, gardeners have never forgotten their ancient patron deity, with many statues from classical mythology found in gardens of stately homes.

http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/03/venus-goddess-of-gardens.html

Chinese early Summer: a period of swelling, flowering, brimming with fire and energy. Traditional Chinese Medicine, Michael hetherington meridians Heart and Small Intestine.

Flowers blooming this moon Aquilegia, Bluebells and Dandelions. Hawkbit, Forget-me-not and Red campion, peony, start of sweet rocket & roses



1st Calan Mai Beltane – fire festival celebrating the coming of summer and the fertility of the coming year.

1st Full Flower Moon in Scorpio Moon.
Celtic- Bright moon.
Medieval- Hare moon.
Native American- Flower moon. Grass moon. Cherokee – Planting moon.
Southern Hemisphere- Milk moon.
This full moon is celebrated more than most in Buddhist countries as the moon on which the Buddha was born, reached enlightenment and died – Wesak day

3rd first Sunday in May – Dawn Chorus Day. At this time of year, the migrant songbirds have returned to the English countryside and fill the air with their song. First organised by environmentalist and broadcaster Chris Baines in the 1980s when he held his birthday party 4am so that all of his guests could listen to the dawn chorus together. 

4th Mayday Bank holiday

6th Lì xià – Chinese start of summer

10th Rogation Sunday – the fifth Sunday after Easter asking gods blessing & protection over crops (from rogare = to ask).

8th or 13th Julian of Norwich feast day

14th Ascension

16th 9pm New Moon in Taurus

20th Sun into Gemini

21st xiǎomǎn – grain buds, corn forms

21st-23rd Shavuot Jewish festival of weeks

24th Pentecost/Whit Sunday

25th Bank holiday

25-30th Hajj Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca

31st Blue Moon in Sagittarius

Frothy hawthorn & butter cup meadows – natures calendar

First Summer: May 05 – May 20

  • The First Frog Call (May 05 – May 09)
  • The Earth Worm Rise (May 10 – May 14)
  • Bamboo Shoots Appear (May 15 – May 20)

Grain Full: May 21 – June 04

  • The Silk Worm Awakes and Eats the Mulberry (May 21 – May 25)
  • The Safflower Blossoms (May 26 – May 30)

https://naturalistweekly.com/72-seasons/

Each season provides a small “a poetic journey through the Japanese year.”
What a magical way to notice the passing of time!

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