The cold winter was easing the strong grip it held on Concord all winter long. As the deep snow melted and prompted dreams of warmer days, thoughts turned to planting crops, tapping a maple tree or two for sap to boil into a sweet amber. A celebration to usher in the month of May was planned too.

Our ancestors lived a life that was certainly different from the life we live today, but there were indeed similarities. Yes, people are people, and the youth of yesteryear were as full of mischief as the youth of today. The last of the snow yielded to mud season as the young men and ladies gathered to plan their primitive entertainment for yet another May Day.

Concord boys back in the early 1800s would plan pranks on the local people as the young girls dreamed of the dance around the May Pole. The boys would gather and awaken at midnight on the last evening of April with the darkest hour before dawn to bring our community into another glorious spring. It was common for the boys to gather together and blow their fish horns loudly up and down the streets of Concord to awaken the unsuspecting residents from a deep spring slumber.

The boys would be quite elated and festive as they approached homes and blew the great horns into the ancient keyholes that secured the heavy oak entry doors. Once the boys had sufficiently awakened the Concord community each May Day, they would continue running in the streets blowing the fish horns. Some of our ancestors were quite perturbed while others quietly smiled as the grumpy old men awoke in a foul mood to welcome May.

The young ladies were of a different nature and desired to dress in colorful clothing as they danced the day away around a May Pole decorated with streamers and other bright ornaments. The tired boys would eventually join them in the dance around a pole that is said to have roots in medieval times.

The blowing of horns and the dancing about poles were rituals that were both greatly anticipated and celebrated by our ancestors. It was a simpler time and widely accepted, for it meant that the long winter was finally over and they could embrace the mild climate and bounty of their labor.

It is said that the first day of May celebration originated in the United States with influence from other ancient rituals and lands. There have always been many events and celebrations linked to this special day held warmly in the hearts of our forefathers. It was in the early 19th century that people began associating the May celebrations with rest, relaxation and joy, which was difficult at times because many people worked long hours and the Industrial Revolution brought much work with even longer hours.

The international workers grouped together and organized themselves in 1884 into a Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions and held gatherings each May 1. The very first organized convention for this group was held in 1884 in Chicago and proclaimed to the world that eight hours shall now constitute a legal day’s labor from and after May 1, 1886. The concept was received well by the people and soon there were disputes like the Haymarket Riot in August of 1886 where people were injured, arrested and prosecuted for lashing out against the establishment.

The people who suffered and died as a result of the riot became known as the Haymarket Martyrs and served to further the labor unions even after their deaths. As the years progressed and many joined unions there were laws enacted to protect the people who labored to live with many disputes along the way. After the 1894 Pullman Labor Strike we found President Cleveland making great strides by trying to separate the association of international labor celebrated on May 1.

President Cleveland moved the United States’ celebration of labor to the first Monday in September when he established Labor Day as a federal holiday. He also successfully severed ties with the international celebration of labor each May 1. As our little town of Concord celebrated each first day of May in later years as well as Labor Day each September, I am sure that the older gentlemen had a twinkle in their eyes as the last day of April approached.

A young boy full of mischief in the darkest hours before dawn approaching that ancient keyhole with fish horn in hand, ready to awaken the residents and usher in a new season. A fond memory indeed. A happy May Day to one and all.