Hi Les

May Day is traditionaly the first day of summer and I suppose the dancing is a remnant of the may fairs that were commonly held on this day throughout england. In theory the frosts are all finished so there is a celebration before the hardwork of planting begins.

The first of may has also gained a reputation in more recent times as a day when workers can assert their rights to fair pay, equal treatment etc. In their wisdom the british goverment have the may bank holiday as a "movable feast" and so the bank holiday usually falls on the nearest inconvenient day to may day.

Weald of Kent dance predominantly adderbury, bampton and headington dances being formed in 1988 by former members of two nearby cotswold sides Ravensbourne MM and Hartley MM. Surely you have heard of them?!

Peter