I am not a Pagan, but I grew up in a largely unassimilated Irish community in New York. Certain habits and customs practised in my family can certainly be traced to Pagan origins.

For example, today being the First of May, it is the day to clean out your fireplace, being careful to sweep out every last coal and then discard them. Scrub the stones clean and then light a new fire at sunset. WHile we may sweep out coals during the rest of the year, we don't have to scrub the stones clean again until next May 1st.

First of May is also a day to bring gifts to Brides who were married in the preceding year. Traditonal gifts include a box of salt, a loaf of bread or..bread starter (new live yeast culture), a brand new broom and a silver coin. I have no clue why but I believe the new yeast culture has something to do with the same reason why you light a new fire.

I hear that First of May is a popular Pagan wedding or handfasting day. I always thought that odd since I was told growing up that "Only wicked women marry in the month of May". When I was planning my own wedding made the mistake of suggesting memorial weekend, the shrieks from my 96 year old grandmother nixed that but quick. My sister who got remarried in may after a divorce had her wedding shunned by my family. They refused to attend the ceremony but did go to the recption. I don't know if this because of the wicked women marry in may thing. The reason, I was told is that the month of May is sacred to the Virgin Mary and that any woman thinking herself the equal of the Virgin will suffer bitter disappointment in her marriage.

Amazing how we retain this stuff, eh?