In honor of the first of the month, we bring to you ten little folklores for the month of May:
1. May Day Doorways and Green Branches
On the first of May, it was common to hang fresh greenery—birch, rowan, or other local branches—above doorways. This was meant to protect the home and invite growth for the season ahead.
2. Morning Dew for Beauty
Washing your face in May Day dew was believed to preserve youth and improve the complexion. It had to be collected at dawn, before the sun touched it.
3. Never Bring Hawthorn Indoors
Hawthorn is strongly tied to the fae. Bringing it into the house in May was thought to invite bad luck or unwanted attention. It was safer to leave it growing or use it outside.
4. The Maypole and Fertility
Raising and dancing around the maypole symbolized fertility and the intertwining of life. It was directly connected to hopes for successful crops and population growth.
5. May Weddings Bring Bad Luck
In many traditions, getting married in May was avoided. The logic was practical—this was a busy agricultural season—but it became a widespread superstition.
6. Leaving Offerings for the Fae
Food, milk, or bread might be left outside on May Eve to appease fair folk. This was a time when boundaries between worlds were considered more permeable.
7. Don’t Wash Blankets on May Day
In some European traditions, washing large household items like blankets on May Day was thought to bring misfortune or illness to the household.
8. May Baskets and Secret Gifts
Small baskets filled with flowers or treats were left anonymously on doorsteps. It was a quiet form of courtship or goodwill, often done before sunrise.
9. May Cats and Weather Omens
In parts of European folklore, the behavior of cats in May was used to predict the weather. A restless or overly active cat was said to signal incoming storms, while a calm, lounging cat pointed to clear skies ahead.
10. First of May Sets the Tone
There’s a belief that whatever you do on May 1st carries into the rest of the month. It’s treated as a kind of informal omen day—productive actions lead to a productive stretch ahead.
