Welcome May (Almanac 2026)
Dates and seasonal ideas to bring you closer to Nature in May
WELCOME MAY
The month of May not only sounds bright and joyous, it brings one of the most abundant phases of the Spring season - an early blossoming leading up to the warm, heady days of Summer. For our ancestors, For our ancestors living in rural areas, the beginning of May was recognised as an annual festival and was celebrated through out the country with folk music, traditional dancing and village games.
In Pagan tradition, the year was divided into two halves, to represent the dark and the light. Beltane, falls on the first of May, marking the turning point in the seasons of light where Spring gives way to Summer. It was considered to be a time of transformation for the individual as an integral part of the surrounding landscape. The name Beltane (or Bealtaine in Eire when the fairies held their conclaves on hilltops and looked for satisfaction in their feuds, meaning a wise mortal would stay indoors at this time of year) means 'bright fire’ which has been celebrated for centuries with bonfires to mimic the power of the Sun and to encourage its warmth to grow through the coming months.
It is now that the blossoms take centre stage. Having enjoyed the bright white scattering of Hawthorn blossom, sprinkled across the land like tiny stars, a plethora of scented blooms follow on fruit trees with birch, sycamore, gorse, rowan and hazel unfolding with new leaves.
Take some time this month to gather flowers and greenery from the woods and fields to decorate your homes and workplace. This act of
‘bringing in the May’ is a lovely way to make the most of Nature’s generous abundance and to seek out about ancient local customs being practiced across the isles.
Moon phases
- Friday 1 May - FULL FLOWER MOON in Scorpio
- Saturday 16 May - NEW STRAWBERRY MOON in Taurus
Sunrise and sunset (Devon, British Isles)
- Friday 1 May - Sunrise (5.49 am) - Sunset (8.35 pm)
- Sunday 31 May - Sunrise (5.08 am) - Sunset (9.17 pm)
Zodiac Signs
- Taurus - April 21 - May 21
- Gemini - May 22 - June 21
May's flowers - Lilly of the Valley & Hawthorn Blossom
These beautiful and dainty Spring flowers symbolise sweetness, humility and purity. With a delicious scent, these bell-shaped white flowers represent the return of happiness. Often paired with Hawthorn blossom which symbolises hope and supreme happiness. The latter is known as the May Tree for its luxurious, almond-smelling blossoms that bring our hedgerows and fields to life throughout the month. The Hawthorn called the Fairy Tree, serving as portals to the Otherworld.
To the the Victorians, Lily of the Valley represented the return of happiness, sweetness and purity, some legends suggest they were created from Eve’s tears when she was banished from the Garden of Eden. Some say they represent the tears of the Virgin Mary, leading to the name Our Lady’s Tears. Hawthorn, on the other hand, was used for protection against evil spirits and lightning, and was often seen as bad luck to bring the blossoms into the home, even though Hawthorn blossom, known as May-tree or Mayflower, symbolised both fertility and love.
May's birthstone - Emerald
May's birthstone personifies the abundance of greenery and new life brought to us through the Spring season, symbolising rebirth and growth. The emerald is a deep green beryl crystal,representing the richness and abundance of nature, the energy of personal growth and hope for the future.
This beautiful stone is known to nurture relationships, foster domestic bliss and promote self-love due to it's similarity to frequency of the Heart Chakra, promoting emotional balance and connection. In healing practices, Emerald is used to alleviate stress, anxiety and depression by promoting a calm, balanced and compassionate state of mind. It is also used to detoxify the liver, treat infections, aid recovery from illnesses, and improve heart and eye health.
May's Folklore
- Dry May, wet June.
- Cold, wet May, barn full of hay.
- A cold May and a windy, makes a barn full and findy [solid, firm, substantial].
- Marry in the month of May, and you'll surely rue the day.
- A swarm of bees in May is worth a load of hay.
- A wet May will fill the byre [cow shed] full of hay.
- Mist in May, heat in June, makes harvest come right soon.
- Cast not a clout till May be out.
- A cold May is kindly and fills the barn finely.
May's Quote
The Earth throws back her slumber-robe; and, kissed awake by showers; reaches her emerald banners out; and laughs a wealth of flowers.
Sara L. Vickers Oberholtzer, "A May Parable," Souvenirs of Occasions, 1892
I hope you enjoy making the most of Nature through May for your good health, happiness and wellbeing. I look forward to seeing you here for the next Almanac on 1 June 2026.
Sue Cartwright
Spiral Leaf
Thank you for sharing!
for you, for me and for Mother Nature
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