Calan Mai

A maypole at Llanfyllin, Montgomeryshire (now Powys) on 1 May 1941

Calan Mai ([ˈkalan ˈmai̯] 'first day of May') or Calan Haf ([ˈkalan ˈhaːv] 'first day of Summer'), also historically called Cyntefin,[1] is the Welsh celebration of May Day (1 May). It marks the beginning of summer and traditionally it involved festivities around bonfires, maypoles, and carol singing. Some of its traditions parallel the Gaelic May Day festival Beltane, and other May Day and Walpurgis Night traditions in Europe.

  1. ^ Koch, John (2006). Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. p. 331.