In Wales, May 1 is a holiday known as Calan Mai or Calan Haf, which means the first day of summer. Celebrations start on the evening before, known as May Eve, with bonfires. The tradition of lighting Midsummer bonfires happened annually in south Wales until the middle of the 19th century. National motto: Cymru am byth (Welsh: Wales for ever) Waless location within the UK Official languages English(100%), Welsh(20. ... May 1 is the 121st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (122nd in leap years). ... The word holiday has related but different meanings in English-speaking countries. ... A bonfire or balefire is a large controlled outdoor fire made from bales of straw or wood. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ...
The first day of May in Wales is known as CalanMai or Calan Haf, the first day of summer, in the same way that the first of November was known as Calan Gaeaf, the first day of winter.
May fires were always started with the faggots of the previous year and midsummer from those of the last summer.
The singers would visit families on May morning accompanied by a harpist or fiddler, to wish them the greetings of the season and give thanks to "the bountiful giver of all good gifts." If their singing was thought worthy, they would be rewarded with food, drink, and possibly money.
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