'Round the maypole - round and round
Men and maids and children bound
Show'ring as they halt between
Honours on their May Day Queen.' |
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Spring, the sweet spring
Is the year's pleasant king,
Then blooms each thing,
Then maids dance in a ring.'
(Thomas Nash)
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The first May Day |
Knutsford's first official May Day was celebrated on Monday 2nd May,
1864, and was based on earlier traditions and festivities. At that
time cattle were still being put out to pasture on Ley Day, May 12th,
the old May Day before the calendar change of 1752. Knutsford
earned it's 'Royal' title in 1887 when this was bestowed by the then
Prince & Princess of Wales. Today, Knutsford has it's own
Royal May Day Festival Committee and it's fame is worldwide, attracting
thousands of visitors every year at the beginning of May. 
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Origins |
 The
origins and traditions of May Day are old, varied and obscure. They
encompass the rites and symbolism of ancient fertility cults, the Roman
Spring festival of Floralia, Celtic Beltane, medieval traditions of
morris dancing, and May games. Knutsford's own celebrations owe
something to Cheshire traditions, although they have now evolved into
their own style. However, May Day focal points were the procession
through the town and crowning of the May Queen, and dancing around the
May pole itself. 
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May Pole |
 The
origins of the May pole hark back to ancient times when the spirits
of trees and wells were worshipped. The Roman spring festival of
Floralia, in honour of Flora, goddess of flowers, included decorating
houses with fruit and flowers. This gave rise to the decorative
maypole, the wearing of garlands, and to birching, where a branch would
be hung on a front door in reference to the female occupant. The Green
man, or Jack in the Green, another ancient fertility symbol, leads Knutsford's
modern day procession. A sculpture of him can be seen at Knutsford's
Heritage Centre.
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Knutsford |
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 Knutsford's
own celebrations have changed and developed over the years since 1864
when it's rural attractions pulled in city dwellers who would come
to see cows and cowmen, sheep and shepherds, milkmaids, village weddings,
and gypsy Kings and Queens. Also taking part in the activities were
popular and well known characters, particularly those of the Robin
Hood legend, whose personalities had ancient and symbolic meanings
and connections to May Day. There were also May games, mummers' plays,
singing and dancing.
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Modern May Day |
As years went by the rural style gave way to a more carnival atmosphere.
Today you can hope to see a procession which includes morris dancers,
brass bands, the Cheshire Wheelmen on antique bicycles, a whole host
of characters including a town crier and Highwayman Higgins, and a
Royal May Queen accompanied by foot guards, ladies in waiting, and
a crown bearer. One tradition which has now become almost unique to
Knutsford's celebrations and is still perpetuated is the custom of
"sanding", whereby the pavements of the town are decorated
with motto's and patterns in coloured sand. One local legend
refers to King Canute for its origin, who is supposed to have wished
a bridal couple as many children as grains of sand. Sanding
was then a wedding custom before it became a May Day event in Knutsford.
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| Special thanks to Knutsford's resident Historian
Joan Leach for textual and pictorial sources. For a more detailed
look at Knutsford's May Day traditions see 'The History of Knutsford's
Royal May Day' available from Knutsford Heritage Centre. |
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Royal May Day