Latest news with #MayQueen
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Why does the UK have 2 bank holidays in May? The history behind them
The UK has a handful of bank holidays scheduled each year and on occasion, we sometimes get an extra one thrown in. Whether you work on bank holidays or enjoy a long weekend, you might wonder why there are two bank holidays taking place in May. Here's what we know about the two upcoming bank holidays and why they get a spot on the UK calendar each year. In May, the two bank holidays take place in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland but some bank holidays are different in each country. If you've wondered what the history behind the two bank holidays is, look no further. May Day, also known as early May bank holiday, takes place on Monday, May 6 this year while the spring bank holiday will be on Monday, May 26. The BBC explains: 'The most famous example is the first May bank holiday, commonly known as May Day. 'It's the one traditionally associated with people dancing with ribbons around a Maypole on a village green and crowning a young girl as a May Queen. 'May Day normally takes place on the first Monday in May.' Professor Julie-Marie Strange, a historian at Durham University, told the BBC: 'May Day in Britain springs from much older seasonal customs associated with the agricultural economy.' May has always been a busy month for farmers and the May Day bank holiday was a chance for them to relax before the busy times ahead. While the first Monday of May is May Day, the final Monday in May is the spring bank holiday. The Economic Times said: 'Initially, the spring bank holiday began as the Monday after Pentecost. It is also known as Whitsun or Whit Monday in the United Kingdom. 'It is the enactment of 'The Banking and Financial Dealings Act of 1971' that shifted this holiday to the last Monday of May. This was done after a trial period of this arrangement from 1965-1970.' It added: 'Whit Monday falls the day after Pentecost Sunday, a significant event in the Christian calendar. 'Pentecost Sunday occurs 50 days after Easter and is determined by the lunar calendar. 'It commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles following the death of Jesus, which led to the first sermon and marked the birth of the Christian Church. Recommended reading: Will the UK get an extra bank holiday for VE Day's 80th anniversary? Will Royal Mail post my letters and parcels on a bank holiday? Full list of UK Bank Holidays for 2025 'This day is celebrated by Christians of Catholic, Protestant, and Lutheran faiths with special church services.' Whit Monday is celebrated 'in many historically Christian countries in Europe, including Belgium, Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, and Switzerland.' This year, we still have a few bank holidays left, including early May (May 5), spring (May 26), summer (August 25), Christmas Day (December 25) and Boxing Day (December 26).
The Guardian
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Kim Jong-un's tank and Knights Templar: photos of the weekend
People take part in the Beltain Celtic fire festival at Butser Ancient Farm in Hampshire. Beltain, (also known as Beltane), is an ancient Celtic celebration to mark the beginning of summer and is centred around the story of the May Queen and the Green Man, and the lighting of the Beltain bonfire, symbol of purification, healing and new life Photograph: Andrew Matthews/PA Women wear the traditional Black Forest costume with the 'Bollenhut' pompom hat during a festival Photograph: Steffen Schmidt/Reuters Members of the RAF band unwind at Wellington Barracks after taking part in an overnight rehearsal for VE Day 80th anniversary procession. The UK kicks off four days of events on Monday marking 80 years since the end of the second world war in Europe Photograph: Henry Nicholls/AFP/Getty Images Zane Mathews of Keller, Texas, laughs as he holds his son, Hayes, in the third period in game seven of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series between the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche in Texas Photograph: Julio Cortez/AP Participants run across the Charles Bridge as they take part in Prague's international marathon Photograph: Michal Čížek/AFP/Getty Images Sovereignty #18, ridden by jockey Junior Alvarado, crosses the finish line to win the 151st Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs Photograph:Kim Jong-un inspects a tank factory at an undisclosed location Photograph: KCNA via KNS/AFP/Getty Images A red kite hunts in Buckinghamshire Photograph: James Manning/PA Lady Gaga performs at Copacabana Beach Photograph: Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Live Nation A pilgrim group who are members of a contemporary Templar organisation and inspired by the medieval Knights Templar order walk towards St Peter's Basilica at St Peter's Square, before the conclave to elect the next pope Photograph: Stoyan Nenov/Reuters Palestinian children and women hold out containers for donated food at a community kitchen Photograph: Abdel Kareem Hana/AP Palestinian children head to a water distribution point to fill their containers amid a humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip Photograph: Omar El Qattaa/AFP/Getty Images An Israeli reserve soldier takes part in a protest as mothers of soldiers call for and end to the war in Gaza Photograph: Amir Cohen/Reuters A purple sunbird perches on a flower stem in Rajasthan Photograph: Himanshu Sharma/AFP/Getty Images Firefighters extinguish burning cars after a night-time drone attack, amid the Russian invation of Ukraine Photograph: Ukrainian State Emergency Service/AFP/Getty Images
Daily Record
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Edinburgh 'fire festival' in pictures as Scots celebrate start of summer
The Beltane Fire Festival is an annual event that takes place on Calton Hill and takes the form of a procession that starts at Edinburgh's National Monument. A unique festival took place in Edinburgh this week that celebrates the beginning of summer. The Beltane Fire Festival is an annual event that takes place on April 30 at Calton Hill. It takes the form of a procession that starts at Edinburgh's National Monument - and the one-of-a-kind festival involves acrobats, dancers, musicians, puppeteers, and more. It is an immersive and interactive experience, with no barriers between the audience and performers. The Beltane Fire Festival tells the story of the May Queen and the Green Man. The pair lead the procession, which also includes a wide variety of other colourful characters, joined by other performers painted in bright colours, with many semi-nude. Over the course of the festival, guests will observe the death and rebirth of the Green Man - and this symbolic ritual signals the beginning of summer. Here the Record takes a look at the best pictures from yesterday.
Daily Record
01-05-2025
- General
- Daily Record
The history of Scotland's fire festival Beltane as Scots celebrate start of summer
May 1 marks an ancient Gaelic festival that celebrates the start of summer with rituals and bonfires. Most of us will recognise the beginning of June as the start of the summer. But centuries ago, Scotland actually celebrated the new season on May 1, with an ancient festival that marked the end of spring. Beltane is a Gaelic festival that dates way back to the Iron Age, which was historically celebrated across Scotland, Ireland, and the Isle of Man. This ancient celebration is just one of four Gaelic festivals that signify the start of each new season—the others being Samhuinn on November 1, Imbolc on February 1, and Lughnasadh on August 1. Latha Bealltainn (which means Beltane in Scots Gaelic), is believed to translate to 'bright fire'. Traditionally, the festival ushered in the start of the pastoral summer season, during which time livestock was moved to summer pastures. Due to the fact that crops and livestock such as cattle were so important during this time, ancient societies would carry out rituals at Beltane in order to protect them from natural- or supernatural- harm. These ritualistic practices usually featured fire, and were carried out to please spirits or fairies that were believed to possess significant power over the lands. Burning bonfires was one of the most notable rituals that took place during the festival of Beltane, which was done to commemorate the growing power of the sun in summer after long months of winter darkness. Flames, smoke, and ash were all thought to possess mystical protective properties, and the festival also saw both people and livestock moving around the fire, and in some cases even leaping over it. Another practice that was commonly carried out was the decorating of cattle horns with flowers to appease the fairies, and the offering of food or milk at trees where they were thought to live. Some communities also traditionally chose a virgin woman to be their 'May Queen', who would lead marches and songs at Beltane. A local man would also be selected as the 'Green Man', and the two would marry in a symbolic ceremony that represented fertility and rebirth as summer began. Nowadays, the festival of Beltane has been modernised and takes place on Edinburgh's Calton hill on the evening of April 30. It takes the form of a procession that starts at Edinburgh's National Monument. The modern version of this ancient festival involves acrobats, dancers, musicians, puppeteers, and of course, fire. The festival is an immersive and interactive experience, with no barriers between the audience and performers. Characters from the original celebration will make an appearance as the May Queen and the Green Man lead the procession. Performers are painted bright colours, while many of them appear semi-nude as they follow in the parade. Over the course of the festival, guests observe the death and rebirth of the Green Man in a symbolic ritual echoing the ancient festival, and signalling the beginning of summer. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
BBC News
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Beltane Fire Festival marks arrival of summer in Edinburgh
Thousands of people have gathered in Edinburgh to mark the arrival of summer at the annual Beltane Fire flocked to the city's Calton Hill on Wednesday night for the traditional Celtic ritual display celebrating the turning of the 7,000 people were in attendance to see the hill lit up with fire-filled displays soundtracked by thunderous drumming and performers in striking festival has been celebrated in the city on 30 April every year since 1988, but its traditions are thousands of years old. Elders known as the "Blues" provide space for the community to tell the traditional stories of the May Queen, and the death and rebirth of the Green role of May Queen, a mother goddess figure, is usually held by the performer for several story dictates the transition from winter to summer, which can only happen when the Green Man, an archetypal figure in folklore all over the UK, dies and is reborn does so in order to shake off the last vestiges of winter. In October, the Samhuinn Fire Festival takes place at Holyrood Park, marking the transition back to the winter Bloom, chair of the Beltane Fire Society, said: "Another year, another magical Beltane."As we roll into summer and carry the May Queen's message of renewal with us, a huge thank you to the hundreds of volunteers and thousands of witnesses who made it all happen."
