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MANNERS & CUSTOMS OF ALL NATIONS.
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MAY DAY.
It would seem that among our Pagan ancestors, before the introduction
of Christianity, the _first day of May_ was the great festival in
honour of the sun, and that fires were then kindled and rejoicings
made, in honour of that great luminary. The first day of May is still
called _Beltan_, or _Baal-tein_, "the fire of Baal." In some parts of
the country the shepherds still make festivals of milk and eggs on
that day, but the custom is rapidly declining. In the Highlands the
festival is still continued with singular ceremonies. On Beltan day
all the boys in a township or hamlet meet in the moors; they cut a
table in the green sod, of a round figure, by casting a trench in the
ground of such circumference as to hold the whole company; they kindle
a fire, and dress a meal of eggs and milk of the consistence of a
custard; and then knead a cake of oatmeal, which is toasted at the
embers against a stone.
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