{"id":3285,"date":"2023-05-01T14:26:08","date_gmt":"2023-05-01T13:26:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/?p=3285"},"modified":"2023-04-28T14:35:17","modified_gmt":"2023-04-28T13:35:17","slug":"may-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/2023\/05\/01\/may-day\/","title":{"rendered":"May Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

May Day<\/h1>\n

Ancient Europe<\/h2>\n

May Day today, the start of Summer. Celebrations can date to the Ancient Romans and Celts. The ancient Celts celebrated the 1st<\/sup> of May with the festival of Beltane throughout Ireland, Scotland and the Island of Man. Beltane festival was marked with bonfires to symbolise the \u2018return of life and fertility\u2019 associated with the beginning of Summer. Whilst, the Romans celebrated May Day as a five-day celebration to worship the Roman Goddess of flowers, Flora.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Medieval Europe<\/h2>\n

The medieval times brought the tradition of the maypole dance, the exact date and place of origins of the maypole dance is not clear. However, it is still celebrated today. Like the bonfires of the Ancient Romans and Celts, the maypole symbolises fertility. It is a tall wooden pole decorated with floral garlands. And people danced around the pole with the joy that summer is returning.<\/p>\n

The Industrial Age<\/h3>\n

Moving on May Day has become symbolic of workers\u2019 rights which originated in the United States during the 19th<\/sup> century. In Chicago, in 1884, the American Federation of Labour proclaimed that the eight-hour working day would become legal after the 1st<\/sup> May 1886. And worker strikes and protests began for this proclamation. The US government sent in the police and the tension resulted in the Haymarket Riot. In the years after, workers around the United States and Europe demonstrated on the May 1st<\/sup>, in commemoration of the Haymarket riots. Later the Soviet Union would also proclaim May 1st<\/sup> as a workers\u2019 holiday.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Today, perhaps May Day is less seen as either a worker\u2019s holiday or rural festivities. However, the day is still a public holiday in some countries and some festivities continue.<\/p>\n

You can read about May and Springtime<\/a><\/p>\n

Photo source Kristine Tanne<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

May Day Ancient Europe May Day today, the start of Summer. Celebrations can date to the Ancient Romans and Celts. The ancient Celts celebrated the 1st of May with the festival of Beltane throughout Ireland, Scotland and the Island of Man. Beltane festival was marked with bonfires to symbolise the \u2018return of life and fertility\u2019 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":275,"featured_media":3286,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[610],"tags":[669,670],"class_list":["post-3285","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-celebration-week","tag-mayday-history-medievaleurope-ancientfestivals-ancienteurope-industrialrevolution","tag-workersright-may-1stofmay-beginningofsummer","post-preview"],"yoast_head":"\nMay Day - The Library Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Today is May Day, read about the history of May Day here, from rural festivals in Ancient Europe to workers right in Gilded Age USA.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/2023\/05\/01\/may-day\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"May Day - The Library Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Today is May Day, read about the history of May Day here, from rural festivals in Ancient Europe to workers right in Gilded Age USA.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/2023\/05\/01\/may-day\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Library Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-05-01T13:26:08+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/83\/2023\/04\/kristine-tanne-_ttUcGgTWCY-unsplash.jpg?fit=640%2C960&ssl=1\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"640\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"960\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"mayagreen\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"History of May Day May Day\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/83\/2023\/04\/kristine-tanne-_ttUcGgTWCY-unsplash.jpg?fit=640%2C960&ssl=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@ednaplib\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@ednaplib\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"mayagreen\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\\\/library\\\/2023\\\/05\\\/01\\\/may-day\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\\\/library\\\/2023\\\/05\\\/01\\\/may-day\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"mayagreen\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\\\/library\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/553bcff436953d2b7c3a2ead5ca2d119\"},\"headline\":\"May Day\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-05-01T13:26:08+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\\\/library\\\/2023\\\/05\\\/01\\\/may-day\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":295,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\\\/library\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\\\/library\\\/2023\\\/05\\\/01\\\/may-day\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\\\/library\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/83\\\/2023\\\/04\\\/kristine-tanne-_ttUcGgTWCY-unsplash.jpg?fit=640%2C960&ssl=1\",\"keywords\":[\"#MayDay #History #MedievalEurope #AncientFestivals #AncientEurope #IndustrialRevolution\",\"#WorkersRight #May #1stOfMay #BeginningOfSummer\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Celebration Week\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\\\/library\\\/2023\\\/05\\\/01\\\/may-day\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\\\/library\\\/2023\\\/05\\\/01\\\/may-day\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\\\/library\\\/2023\\\/05\\\/01\\\/may-day\\\/\",\"name\":\"May Day - The Library Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\\\/library\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\\\/library\\\/2023\\\/05\\\/01\\\/may-day\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\\\/library\\\/2023\\\/05\\\/01\\\/may-day\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\\\/library\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/83\\\/2023\\\/04\\\/kristine-tanne-_ttUcGgTWCY-unsplash.jpg?fit=640%2C960&ssl=1\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-05-01T13:26:08+00:00\",\"description\":\"Today is May Day, read about the history of May Day here, from rural festivals in Ancient Europe to workers right in Gilded Age USA.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\\\/library\\\/2023\\\/05\\\/01\\\/may-day\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\\\/library\\\/2023\\\/05\\\/01\\\/may-day\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\\\/library\\\/2023\\\/05\\\/01\\\/may-day\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\\\/library\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/83\\\/2023\\\/04\\\/kristine-tanne-_ttUcGgTWCY-unsplash.jpg?fit=640%2C960&ssl=1\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\\\/library\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/83\\\/2023\\\/04\\\/kristine-tanne-_ttUcGgTWCY-unsplash.jpg?fit=640%2C960&ssl=1\",\"width\":640,\"height\":960,\"caption\":\"Cherry Blossom flowers\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\\\/library\\\/2023\\\/05\\\/01\\\/may-day\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\\\/library\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"May Day\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\\\/library\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\\\/library\\\/\",\"name\":\"The Library Blog\",\"description\":\"Edinburgh Napier University Library blog. Filled with useful and fun blog articles on using the Library, the University, Edinburgh and many other fun topics.\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\\\/library\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\\\/library\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\\\/library\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Edinburgh Napier University Library\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\\\/library\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\\\/library\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\\\/library\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/83\\\/2021\\\/05\\\/Untitled-design.png?fit=500%2C500&ssl=1\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\\\/library\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/83\\\/2021\\\/05\\\/Untitled-design.png?fit=500%2C500&ssl=1\",\"width\":500,\"height\":500,\"caption\":\"Edinburgh Napier University Library\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\\\/library\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/ednaplib\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/enu_library\\\/\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\\\/library\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/553bcff436953d2b7c3a2ead5ca2d119\",\"name\":\"mayagreen\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/4b9d26296ad6947d7bfbd6e90fbfadda523b813e1086e0f5cdf6867520fffe16?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/4b9d26296ad6947d7bfbd6e90fbfadda523b813e1086e0f5cdf6867520fffe16?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/4b9d26296ad6947d7bfbd6e90fbfadda523b813e1086e0f5cdf6867520fffe16?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"mayagreen\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\\\/library\\\/author\\\/mayagreen\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"May Day - The Library Blog","description":"Today is May Day, read about the history of May Day here, from rural festivals in Ancient Europe to workers right in Gilded Age USA.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/2023\/05\/01\/may-day\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"May Day - The Library Blog","og_description":"Today is May Day, read about the history of May Day here, from rural festivals in Ancient Europe to workers right in Gilded Age USA.","og_url":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/2023\/05\/01\/may-day\/","og_site_name":"The Library Blog","article_published_time":"2023-05-01T13:26:08+00:00","og_image":[{"width":640,"height":960,"url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/83\/2023\/04\/kristine-tanne-_ttUcGgTWCY-unsplash.jpg?fit=640%2C960&ssl=1","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"mayagreen","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_title":"History of May Day May Day","twitter_image":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/83\/2023\/04\/kristine-tanne-_ttUcGgTWCY-unsplash.jpg?fit=640%2C960&ssl=1","twitter_creator":"@ednaplib","twitter_site":"@ednaplib","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"mayagreen","Estimated reading time":"2 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/2023\/05\/01\/may-day\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/2023\/05\/01\/may-day\/"},"author":{"name":"mayagreen","@id":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/#\/schema\/person\/553bcff436953d2b7c3a2ead5ca2d119"},"headline":"May Day","datePublished":"2023-05-01T13:26:08+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/2023\/05\/01\/may-day\/"},"wordCount":295,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/2023\/05\/01\/may-day\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/83\/2023\/04\/kristine-tanne-_ttUcGgTWCY-unsplash.jpg?fit=640%2C960&ssl=1","keywords":["#MayDay #History #MedievalEurope #AncientFestivals #AncientEurope #IndustrialRevolution","#WorkersRight #May #1stOfMay #BeginningOfSummer"],"articleSection":["Celebration Week"],"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/2023\/05\/01\/may-day\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/2023\/05\/01\/may-day\/","url":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/2023\/05\/01\/may-day\/","name":"May Day - The Library Blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/2023\/05\/01\/may-day\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/2023\/05\/01\/may-day\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/83\/2023\/04\/kristine-tanne-_ttUcGgTWCY-unsplash.jpg?fit=640%2C960&ssl=1","datePublished":"2023-05-01T13:26:08+00:00","description":"Today is May Day, read about the history of May Day here, from rural festivals in Ancient Europe to workers right in Gilded Age USA.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/2023\/05\/01\/may-day\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/2023\/05\/01\/may-day\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/2023\/05\/01\/may-day\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/83\/2023\/04\/kristine-tanne-_ttUcGgTWCY-unsplash.jpg?fit=640%2C960&ssl=1","contentUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/83\/2023\/04\/kristine-tanne-_ttUcGgTWCY-unsplash.jpg?fit=640%2C960&ssl=1","width":640,"height":960,"caption":"Cherry Blossom flowers"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/2023\/05\/01\/may-day\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"May Day"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/#website","url":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/","name":"The Library Blog","description":"Edinburgh Napier University Library blog. Filled with useful and fun blog articles on using the Library, the University, Edinburgh and many other fun topics.","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/#organization","name":"Edinburgh Napier University Library","url":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/83\/2021\/05\/Untitled-design.png?fit=500%2C500&ssl=1","contentUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/83\/2021\/05\/Untitled-design.png?fit=500%2C500&ssl=1","width":500,"height":500,"caption":"Edinburgh Napier University Library"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/x.com\/ednaplib","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/enu_library\/"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/#\/schema\/person\/553bcff436953d2b7c3a2ead5ca2d119","name":"mayagreen","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/4b9d26296ad6947d7bfbd6e90fbfadda523b813e1086e0f5cdf6867520fffe16?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/4b9d26296ad6947d7bfbd6e90fbfadda523b813e1086e0f5cdf6867520fffe16?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/4b9d26296ad6947d7bfbd6e90fbfadda523b813e1086e0f5cdf6867520fffe16?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"mayagreen"},"url":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/author\/mayagreen\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/83\/2023\/04\/kristine-tanne-_ttUcGgTWCY-unsplash.jpg?fit=640%2C960&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3450,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/2025\/07\/31\/lughnasa-celtic-harvest-festival\/","url_meta":{"origin":3285,"position":0},"title":"Lughnasa Celtic Harvest Festival","author":"julietkinsey","date":"31\/07\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Lughnasa Celtic Harvest Festival Lughnasa is one of four traditional Celtic harvest festivals.\u00a0 It happens at the end of summer when the grains are ripening, but have not yet been harvested. Usually celebrated on the 1st of August, it marks the end of summer and the beginning of the second\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Celebration Week"","block_context":{"text":"Celebration Week","link":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/category\/celebration-week\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Image of crops for blog post Lughnasa Celtic Harvest Festival","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/83\/2023\/07\/polina-rytova-1dGMs4hhcVA-unsplash.jpg?fit=640%2C360&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/83\/2023\/07\/polina-rytova-1dGMs4hhcVA-unsplash.jpg?fit=640%2C360&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/83\/2023\/07\/polina-rytova-1dGMs4hhcVA-unsplash.jpg?fit=640%2C360&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2218,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/2022\/05\/01\/may-day-the-beginning-of-spring\/","url_meta":{"origin":3285,"position":1},"title":"May Day The Beginning of Spring","author":"julietkinsey","date":"01\/05\/2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Springtime Is there anything that gladdens the heart of the city-dweller more than the glorious pink of cherry- and the wondrous white of apple blossom lining the grimy streets? Personally, I feel my spirits soar every time I wander along an avenue of blossom and turn up my face to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Celebrations"","block_context":{"text":"Celebrations","link":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/category\/celebrations\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"May day spring cherry blossom","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/83\/2022\/04\/cherry-blossom-gc07daeabb_1280.jpg?fit=1200%2C770&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/83\/2022\/04\/cherry-blossom-gc07daeabb_1280.jpg?fit=1200%2C770&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/83\/2022\/04\/cherry-blossom-gc07daeabb_1280.jpg?fit=1200%2C770&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/83\/2022\/04\/cherry-blossom-gc07daeabb_1280.jpg?fit=1200%2C770&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/83\/2022\/04\/cherry-blossom-gc07daeabb_1280.jpg?fit=1200%2C770&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3633,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/2025\/10\/31\/a-history-of-halloween\/","url_meta":{"origin":3285,"position":2},"title":"A History of Halloween","author":"julietkinsey","date":"31\/10\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"A History of Halloween Are you sitting comfortably? If so, let me begin with a fascinating history of Halloween. People trace the origins of Halloween back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, celebrated around 2,000 years ago. This festival marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Celebrations"","block_context":{"text":"Celebrations","link":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/category\/celebrations\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"picture of carved pumpkins for post A History of Halloween","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/83\/2023\/10\/david-menidrey-MYRG0ptGh50-unsplash.jpg?fit=640%2C427&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/83\/2023\/10\/david-menidrey-MYRG0ptGh50-unsplash.jpg?fit=640%2C427&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/83\/2023\/10\/david-menidrey-MYRG0ptGh50-unsplash.jpg?fit=640%2C427&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3399,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/2023\/06\/21\/june-solstice\/","url_meta":{"origin":3285,"position":3},"title":"June Solstice","author":"mayagreen","date":"21\/06\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"June Solstice Did you wake this morning at 04:26? I did.* I rose with the sun in celebration of the longest day of the year. I bathed my face in the fresh, morning dew, ready to enjoy the summer solstice \u2013 the day when the Sun appears to reach its\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Celebrations"","block_context":{"text":"Celebrations","link":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/category\/celebrations\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Blossom marking June","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/83\/2023\/06\/joseph-r-7TQs-oV5GaU-unsplash.jpg?fit=640%2C360&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/83\/2023\/06\/joseph-r-7TQs-oV5GaU-unsplash.jpg?fit=640%2C360&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/83\/2023\/06\/joseph-r-7TQs-oV5GaU-unsplash.jpg?fit=640%2C360&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5086,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/2026\/02\/14\/the-worlds-love-story-with-valentines-day\/","url_meta":{"origin":3285,"position":4},"title":"The world\u2019s love story with Valentine’s Day","author":"mayagreen","date":"14\/02\/2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The world\u2019s love story with Valentine's Day Today is coming up rosy, literally. Happy Valentine's Day, readers. And while it may feel like just chocolate and flowers, there is a much deeper heart-shaped history that made Valentine's the holiday it is today. Valentines day dates all the way back to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Library Information"","block_context":{"text":"Library Information","link":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/category\/library-information\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Valentines Day","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/83\/2026\/02\/ed-robertson-UrF1Jf5PamQ-unsplash.jpg?fit=640%2C853&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/83\/2026\/02\/ed-robertson-UrF1Jf5PamQ-unsplash.jpg?fit=640%2C853&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/83\/2026\/02\/ed-robertson-UrF1Jf5PamQ-unsplash.jpg?fit=640%2C853&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4953,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/2025\/12\/21\/winter-solstice-how-different-cultures-celebrate-the-longest-night\/","url_meta":{"origin":3285,"position":5},"title":"Winter Solstice: How Different Cultures Celebrate the Longest Night","author":"julietkinsey","date":"21\/12\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Winter Solstice: How Different Cultures Celebrate the Longest Night The Winter Solstice marks the shortest day and longest night of the year. It usually falls around December 21 in the Northern Hemisphere and June 21 in the Southern Hemisphere. For thousands of years, people have celebrated this turning point when\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Celebration Week"","block_context":{"text":"Celebration Week","link":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/category\/celebration-week\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Winter Solstice Around the World: Celebrating the Longest Night","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/83\/2025\/11\/Untitled1.png?fit=1200%2C805&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/83\/2025\/11\/Untitled1.png?fit=1200%2C805&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/83\/2025\/11\/Untitled1.png?fit=1200%2C805&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/83\/2025\/11\/Untitled1.png?fit=1200%2C805&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/83\/2025\/11\/Untitled1.png?fit=1200%2C805&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pd3KWU-QZ","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3285","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/275"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3285"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3285\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3287,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3285\/revisions\/3287"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3286"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3285"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3285"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3285"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}