May Day Celebrations

Large crowds are drawn to a traditional English May Day celebrations in Daventry complete with a flower garlanded May Queen and dancing in the town square.

May Day did not become a public holiday in the UK until 1978 but celebrations to mark the Spring date back to Anglo Saxon times. The age old traditions in Daventry were captured on 8mm film by local man James Green in 1966 include the crowning of the Northamptonshire town's May Queen and an enthusiastic display of folk dancing.