May Day Bank Holiday Weekend is time for a gathering of our band of friends from across the span of time!
As for the past 11 years we headed to the fine Church Stile campsite at Nether Wasdale
As we did last year, me and TBF headed up a day early and parked up overnight in Dunnerdale.
Despite a poor forecast it was a pleasant, if grey morning, and we managed an alfresco breakfast before setting out for a walk up Harter Fell (the western one). I should mention that the original plan was Grey Friar but we were stopped in our tracks by an expansive section of felled forest that had completely obliterated a path and right of way, no warning signs or diversions. Just as well we didn’t come across it on the way down.
Harter Fell is a very good substitute. The lower slopes are a bit of a grind but once at Maiden Castle the rest of the walk is on open fell with numerous rock outcrops for scrambling.
TBF trying to keep up!
Maiden Castle.
TBF took the path to the summit while I took on the scrambles. The summit itself is quite an exposed if easy scramble to reach the highest point. One of Lakelands finest peaks in my humble opinion.
Feeling pretty pleased with myself.
The “summit” from the highest point.
We had a nice leisurely lunch with a grand view over Hardknott Roman Fort below
Rather than go back down the same way we took a circuit down the SW slopes and back through the forest to Birks Bridge where we had another food break.
Its a fine spot for a swim but this early in the year on a grey day we thought better of it.
Much better to just enjoy a nice riverside sit down.
As seems to have been the case for the past several years the Saturday was an awful day. It rained non-stop from dawn till dusk and beyond. We spent a little time at the May Fair and listening to the excellent local Brass Band.
After which we went for a wet walk around the local bluebell woods.
And around to the shores of Wast Water.
Our little band of very wet walkers. The rain didn’t dampen spirits too much on account of the fact that me, R and UF went to the pub for a few pints to warm up and rather than camping most of the party now stay in caravans, a facility us van campers took full advantage of in the evening.
Sunday on the campsite was equally wet and miserable. We decided to head to the coast, hoping it might be drier there. Whilst it was windy and much colder it was indeed dry.
We headed out on a longish walk around to St Bees Head with great views back to the long beach at St Bees.
Its a fabulous stretch of coast and a shame it wasn’t the best weather to see it. We were actually in the cloud at several points.
The beach at Fleswick Bay.
At some indeterminate point it turned extremely warm and muggy – more British weather fickleness.
A wise decision to stay away from the mountains and by the time we arrived back at the site the rain had stopped and we were able to eat our pizzas outside.
On the Monday a few people began the long journey home and a hardy band decided some hill bagging was in order.
There is a small clutch of hills out to the west near Ennerdale that few of us had done so that decided things.
The plan was a circuit of Grike, Crag Fell, the brilliantly named Whoap and Lank Rigg. Lots of Wainwrights and Marilyns.
Its a fine area of little walked hills and I was pleased to see some views new to me having never walked this far west in the Lakes before.
We were enveloped in cold cloud on Grike and still in it when we stopped for lunch on Crag Fell.
However, while we were eating the cloud lifted a little and we were treated to some views of Ennerdale Water and its surrounding fells.
A little bit of weather luck for a change.
One of our party wasn’t feeling 100% so we decided to accompany her back down and leave Whoap and Lank Rigg for another day. A circuit of Worm Gill to take them, Caw Fell and Iron Crag looks to be a fine walk.
Another great weekend despite the poor weather and no sunshine. Apparently pretty much everywhere else in the UK was bathed in sunshine!
Traditions often include gathering wildflowers and green branches ("bringing in the May"), weaving floral garlands, crowning a May Queen (sometimes with a male companion), and setting up a Maypole, May Tree or May Bush, around which people dance and sing. Bonfires are also a major part of the festival in some regions.
Whether it's dancing around the maypole, making flower crowns, planting seeds, having a picnic, or making crafts, May Day activities provide children with an opportunity to learn, be creative, and have fun – which is what Pebble is all about!
May Day, also called Workers' Day or International Workers' Day, is the day that commemorates the struggles and gains made by workers and the labour movement. It is observed in many countries on May 1. In the United States and Canada, a similar observance, known as Labor Day, occurs on the first Monday of September.
In Germany, the day is known as Maifeiertag and is celebrated with dancing, singing and the raising of maypoles. In Finland and Sweden, May Day is celebrated with picnics and outdoor activities, while in the United Kingdom, the celebration includes Morris dancing and other traditional folk customs.
During the Cold War era, the United States distanced itself from May Day due to its connections with communist nations. Instead, the U.S. government instituted other holidays such as “Loyalty Day” on May 1.
Brightly colored radishes, spring peas, asparagus, sweet local strawberries, fresh spring herbs, and alliums are all plentiful This is the time to inhale, take in all the beauty, and celebrate the bountiful harvest, remembering that many of these spring ingredients appear for only a short precious time.
In the United States, delivering a May Day basket on this holiday is traditional. This basket is typically filled with flowers but sometimes contains candy and other small gifts. It's then hung on the doorknob of a friend or neighbor as a surprise.
That is the Red tradition of May Day. But there is also an older Green tradition in which cultures the world over celebrate as Spring arrives in temperate and arctic climates or the wet season arrives in tropical climates.
May Day is the first day of May, traditionally a celebration (or festival) of spring and the resurrection of nature after the winter months. It is normally associated with flowers, dancing and Maypoles, with celebrations sometimes including the crowning of a 'May King', or 'Queen'.
This May Day festival was thought to divide the year in half, between the light and the dark. Symbolic fire was one of the main rituals of the festival, helping to celebrate the return of life and fertility to the world.
Roll a triangle of pretty patterned scrapbook paper into a cone shape and secure the edges with tape. Punch a hole on each side of the opening and thread a colorful ribbon through, tying the ribbon at the top of each hole. Fill with fresh spring flowers or lightweight treats such as popcorn and candies.
To celebrate the arrival of better weather that would allow crops to grow, people decided to dance around the pole. They attached colourful ribbons to the pole and each person would wrap one around as they danced. The end result is a beautiful, multi-coloured tree that symbolized the colours of summer.
In some places, it was customary to sing and dance around the May Bush, and at the end of the festivities it may be burnt in the bonfire. In some areas the May Bush or Bough has also been called the "May Pole", but it is the bush or tree described above, and not the more commonly-known European maypole.
May 1 is International Workers' Day. On this day, people in many countries around the world celebrate workers' achievements and march in the streets demanding fair pay and better working conditions.
For centuries, the Catholic Church has set aside the entire month of May to honor Mary, Mother of God. Not just a day in May, but the entire month. In medieval times, similar customs abounded, all centering around the practice of expelling winter, as May 1st was considered the start of new growth.
Bonfires were a feature of May Eve throughout Europe but the tradition survived mainly in the east of Ireland and in parts of Munster. Although there were small local and family bonfires to ensure good luck, the tradition of larger communal fires survived especially in the cities, e.g. Limerick and Belfast.
Celebrations of spring marking May Day are held in many different parts of the U.S., with maypole dances in some communities. In the 20th Century, it was also popular to make May Day flower baskets and gift them to friends and neighbors. Other holidays also fall on May 1, including a holiday celebrated in Hawaii.
Introduction: My name is Allyn Kozey, I am a outstanding, colorful, adventurous, encouraging, zealous, tender, helpful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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