May Day, Seasons, and Bioregionalism

Part IV of Creating Bioregional Community Response Groups

Happy May Day, dear readers. We proceed forward in our series on bioregionalism and creating community response groups. We pause here on a topic important to bioregionalism in general, but which also has a practical application for creating an ethos for your group and activities.

First, let’s touch on this festival we call May Day. It is typically celebrated on May 1st, though in many traditions it begins on the eve—April 30th at sundown. Sundown is the beginning of the new day in Celtic cultures (my ancestral culture). Halloween for example is Hallow’s Eve.

This festival is thought to have ancient origins, particularly in Eurasia. In hunter gatherer societies there are often summer homes and winter homes, as the tribes follow the herds with the change of seasons. May Day is thought to mark when tribal people would have been uprooting their villages and following the herds to higher elevations for the summer.

This tradition is believed to have continued with the advent of animal husbandry, with villages moving their livestock during these same points of the year. The other half of the year when migration to the lower elevations for winter occurred is marked by Halloween in Celtic and other European cultures. Beltane or Bealtaine (pronounced Byowl-tinna) for May Day, and Samhain (pronounced Sow-ween) for Halloween.

Seasons and Bioregionalism

As you can see, these festivals have a deep connection to nature. Look at what nature is doing around May Day. The herds were moving where the temperatures were more tolerable and the plants are growing for them to eat. Of course this gives the other place a rest from the herd for a time to regenerate.

Paying attention to the change of seasons from a bioregional perspective is crucial for deepening our understanding and connection to the natural world, which in turn is essential for sustaining our local environments and ourselves.

Bioregions are defined by natural characteristics such as watershed patterns, climate, soil types, and native plant and animal communities. These factors are intrinsically linked to the rhythms of seasons. Seasonal changes guide the life cycles of local flora and fauna, influencing when plants bloom and bear fruit, when animals migrate, reproduce, or hibernate, and how water flows through the landscape. By aligning our activities with these natural cycles, communities can ensure that they are living in harmony with the ecosystems that support them.

Moreover, seasonal awareness fosters a sense of place and belonging. Recognizing the signs of seasonal shifts—such as the first frost, the emergence of spring wildflowers, or the return of migratory birds—can deepen our connection to our home environment. This connection is vital for fostering stewardship and responsibility toward local ecosystems.

In our increasingly globalized and industrialized world, where food, goods, and even water are often sourced from distant places, paying attention to the seasons can help counteract the disconnect from nature. It encourages local consumption and production, which is generally more sustainable and has a lower environmental impact. Seasonal living can reduce energy spent on transportation and storage of goods, minimize waste, and support local economies.

Specific To Your Area

My group has been discussing how we can learn about local wild edibles, how and where we can forage them. Different bioregions will have commonalities as well as variables. It doesn’t always need to be native flora either. Where I live there are introduced plants, including nut and fruit trees from what used to be orchards, which can provide food.

What are the seasonal foods being produced by local agriculture? Are apples ripe right now? Are blueberries coming in? When are potatoes being harvested?

What’s happening to the rivers? Notice the patterns of rising and receding. This can be tactically important when navigating the landscape.

Learn about the patterns of wildlife behavior. Are migrations happening? Are hibernations ending or beginning? Are the animals collecting certain foods? What are the fish biting on? These are all things that connect you and your comrades on a deeper level to your landscape.

Tone of the Season

May Day marks the beginning of summer. It’s the brightest half of the year with the longest days. It’s a good time to get in and work hard. It’s a good time to be outside. Typically in the winter, people spend more time indoors and that’s why numerous cultures mark it as a time to tell stories around the hearth fire.

I knew May Day was coming up, so I took a few days to rest. I knew May Day marks the beginning of a spark, of a time to take action. I’ve been writing these guides on our response to collapse since right after November 1st. About 6 months. Now marks a time to launch or expand.

I’ll be outdoors more so I can make more video demonstrations of the skills needed in the Collapse Curriculum for Scout Level I. I also need to spend time with my local bioregional group outdoors. These are just examples of how our goals and activities line up with the tone of the season.

Celebrate

Consider marking these cross-quarter festivals along with the solstices and equinoxes. Plan an event. This is a great way to forge bonds with your local group and community. Think local, traditional, and suitable. Local traditions will very. Consider the historic culture of your bioregion. Consider the ancient traditions of your own ancestors. For mine, May Day is a great time for big fires and parties, plus much more. But do what is suitable for you and your circumstances.

Liftoff!

This is your hint. This is a great time to launch an effort, whatever that may be. Hopefully you are considering building your own local bioregional group.

Thanks for reading and for considering my words on these topics. Expect to see a burst of energy and content from me. The energy of the season is with me. See you soon.