May is here!

May is named after the Greek goddess, Maia. The month is a time of great celebrations in the northern hemisphere. It is the time when flowers emerge and crops begin to sprout.

The Anglo-Saxon name for May was Tri-Milchi, in recognition of the fact that with the lush new grass cows could be milked three times a day. It was first called May in about 1430. Before then it was called Maius, Mayes, or Mai.

goddess = diosa................. lush =exhuberante
crops = cosecha................ milk = ordeñar
sprout =brote

In Britain May day marked the end of the harsh winter months and welcomed the beginning of Summer. For our ancestors, largely in rural areas, it was a major annual festival and was celebrated through out the country, especially on the first of May with music, dancing and games.

harsh = duro, áspero........
welcome = dar la bienvenida.......major = importante

May Day Superstition

• First thing in the morning on May 1st, young girls used to rush out into the garden to wash their faces in the May dew

• The month of may was considered an unlucky month particularly for getting married.

'Marry in May and you'll rue the day'

• Cats born this month will not be good rodent catchers and even worse, will bring snakes into the home.

rush out = salir corriendo....... dew = rocío..............rue= lamentar......... .......
snake= serpiente...............rodent catchers= caza-roedores..
Weather-lore, beliefs and sayings

“A swarm of bees in May
Is worth a load of hay.”

"Mist in May, Heat in June
Makes harvest come right soon"

"If you wash a blanket in May;
You will wash one of the family away."

swarm = enjambre..............................................mist= bruma
load of hay = carga / montón de heno....................harvest = cosecha
to be worth = valer la pena...................................blanket= manta