It's Beltane!

Happy May Day everyone!

If I could, I'd go round to each of your houses with a "Branch of May" to bring you luck and creativity for the year. Since I can't, here's the song I'd most likely sing:

(this is the version I learned in high school, from our headmaster. It seems to be a mix of an English and Appalachian version of the song, which both had heavy references to praying, reading the Bible and judgement day... since we had folks of all religions in our school, the headmaster apparantly pared the God references down to two). Or it could be a third version I've not found elsewhere. :-)

I've been a-wand'ring all this night,
And the best part of the day.
But when I come back home again
I shall bring you a branch of May.

A branch of may I bring you here,
And at your door I stand.
Tis only a sprout, but its well budded out
With the work of God's own hand.

The hills and fields are clothed in green,
As green as the early leaf
The clouds above shall water them
With morning rain so sweet.

My song is done, I must be gone
No longer can I stay.
God bless you all both great and small
And send you a joyful May!

(and just so you know -- I really did sing it as I was typing!) ;-)