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All around Zakynthos we will be celebrating May day. Although, it is a holiday for public workers,
the tradition of celebrating May day goes back centuries.
The custom of Protomagia (first of May ) has its roots in a celebration of spring, nature, and flowers. Flower wreaths, typically made from hand picked wild flowers, will be hung on the doors of many homes in a way to welcome nature and all things good.
Maios (May) the last month of Spring took its name from the Goddess Maya, a goddess who took her name from the ancient word Maia, the nurse and mother. May, according to Greek folklore, has two meanings: The good and the bad, rebirth and death. The custom celebrates the final victory of the summer against winter as the victory of the life against death go back to the ancient years and culminate at the first day of May. This day was also dedicated to the goddess of agriculture Dimitra and her daughter Persephone, who on this day emerges from the underworld and comes to earth. Her coming to earth from Hades marks the blooming of nature and the birth of summer.
In Roman times, Romans arrived and conquered Greece, the May Day celebration continued to exist in some form but it was slightly changed, since both Romans and ancient Greeks believed that flowers represent the beauty of the gods and bring power, glory, happiness and health
Whereas around Greece wreaths will be made from hand picked flowers and hung on the front door. In most parts of Greece, the wreaths will adorn the doors of the houses until the day of St. John the Harvester (June 24) when all the wreaths of the neighborhood are gathered and burnt in a big fire, the fire of the saint.
However. It is Zakynthos that has her tradition a wee bit different, we spread rose petals across the doorway and the entrance of the house along with red dyed eggs those of which are for Easter. This is said to bring new beginnings for the family and as they symbolize rebirth and new life… and after a long winter May celebrates the end and a beginning into summer.
