May Day
This year the May Day bank holiday actually falls on 1st May. This is a day celebrated across the world as a time of holiday and resting. It was associated in the nineteenth century in some parts of the world with workers’ struggles to establish the 8 -hour day as standard. In many countries, though not in Britain officially, it is celebrated as Labour Day or International Worker’s Day. The Roman Catholic Church has designated 1st May as the feast day of St Joseph the Worker in recognition of Joseph as a carpenter, so blessing the dignity of work as participating in the creative work of God.
Traditional May Day celebrations in the northern hemisphere date back hundreds of years before the rise of industrialisation with rites and ceremonies celebrating the arrival of summer days.
Whether we focus on the traditional aspects or the more modern aspects of May Day it is a now a day when there is an opportunity to rest from work and to enjoy the company of family, friends, and neighbours .
If you are planning to come into Wokingham town centre for the May Fayre, visit the All Saints Church spaceforall stall where there will be the latest information about the works in the church and opportunity to discuss it with members of the team, Coronation-themed items on sale, and free craft activities for children. See you there!
