Bringing in the May

Robert Grosseteste, Bishop of Lincoln, provides one of the first written references to May Day customs by complaining, c.1240, about priests joining in ‘games which they call the bringing-in of may", and,

"Whitsonday, or other time, all the yung men and maides, olde men and wives, run gadding overnight to the woods, groves, hils and mountains, where they spend all the night in pleasant pastimes; and in the morning, they return, bringing with them birch and branches of trees, to deck their assemblies with all …

I have heard it credibly reported (and that viva voce) by men of great gravitie and reputation, that of fortie, threescore, or a hundred maides going to the wood over night, there have scarecely the thirde parte of them returned home againe undefiled"  (Stubbes, 1583).

AHHA!  In this time when every democrat is a socialist and May 1 (May Day) is Labour Day in much of the world and we actively equate that to communist workers day, it is nice to know that May Day or A-MAYING or BRINGING IN THE MAY has been around a long time. So there history fans.