May Day is a European festival of ancient origins marking the beginning of summer, usually celebrated on May 1, around halfway between the spring equinox and summer solstice.
Traditions often include gathering wildflowers and green branches, weaving floral garlands, crowning a May Queen, and setting up a Maypole, May Tree or May Bush, around which people dance.

9. Wellow, 2007
Here is 2007's May Queen Emily Paris, left, and the outgoing Queen Laura Belcher. Wellow Maypole Celebrations. Photo: Roger Grayson`

10. Historic Maypole, early 1900s
The earliest known photograph of Wellow Maypole on Maypole Day - probably the Coronation of King George V in 1911. Photo: National World

11. Morris dancing
Morris Men at the Edwinstowe May Day Festival in 2010. Photo: Roger Grayson

12. Primary School pupils
Pupils from Kirkby Woodhouse Primary School pictured dancing around the Maypole at the May Day event held at Kingsway Park, Kirkby, in 2009. Photo: Roger Grayson

