May Day was the first day of the Celtic summer, and May Queens and Green Men (or Jacks-in-the-Green) shrouded in oak and hawthorn leaves were both fertility symbols which, like the maypole, were banned by Puritans. That may explain a lot - can it be the reason that because our oak leaves and may are only just appearing we haven't hatched many chicks yet?!
But the best bit we found, and had a chuckle at, was written by The Reverend Francis Kilvert , c1870 -
'May Eve. Saturday. This evening being May Eve I ought to have put some birch and wittan (mountain ash) over the door to keep out the 'old witch'. But I was too lazy to go out and get it. Let us hope the old witch will not come in during the night. The young witches are welcome.'
And we would like to wish our Aunty Bella (of Honey Jacket-Knitting fame) a Very Happy Birthday for today! Sylvia and Gordon xxx