MAY DAY

the first day of May, which has been marked in Britain for many centuries by outdoor events held to celebrate the arrival of spring. In Britain, traditional events on or near May Day include dancing round the maypole and choosing a May Queen . May Day itself is not necessarily a holiday in Britain, but since 1978 there has been a bank holiday on the Monday closest to 1 May, called the Early May Bank Holiday. In some countries, though not in Britain, May Day has been an occasion for socialist celebrations, often involving military parades (= processions).