#may week

[blackswaneuroparedux]

Through a common culture, a person is joined to something greater than himself, and the world as he perceives it (his Lebenswelt) is transformed accordingly.

Sir Roger Scruton, Aesthetic Experience and Culture

'Singing On The River' on the banks of King's College, Cambridge, with The King's Men - a very traditional Cambridge thing to do to end the Easter term after May Week.

[askacambridgestudent]

My exams end quite early so I was wondering if you have any suggestions for what to do in the week where all my friends still have exams? any places in cambridge you'd recommend visiting/things to do?

There are quite a few nice places to walk to that I would recommend - the walk from Newnham to Granchester is lovely as it goes along the river (and there’s a great place to have a cream tea when you get there!), as well as maybe going along the river in the other direction - you might even get to Ely if you’re determined enough. My typical activities once exams are done are to spend a long time reading, because I don’t do enough of that during term, and enjoying being outside. The range of museums in Cambridge is also quite something, so I’d recommend going to the Fitzwilliam Museum or one of of the science ones, such as the Sedgwick museum (think dinosaurs and rocks) or perhaps the Zoology museum.

[thekitmanuk]

VfL Osnabrück May Week Kit 2024-25

VfL Osnabrück May Week Kit 2024-25

[maypoleman1]

2nd May

Rood Een

Beltane Fire Festival by Vince Graham. Source: BBC News

Beltane Fires remained blazing throughout this week in old Celtic Britain. In Scotland, the Beltane Carle was chosen by lot to leap through the fire to ensure good fortune throughout the summer season. He had to leap through the fire three times, which will have been dangerous for him, but in a way he was lucky. The rite was a memory of human sacrifice when, in even more ancient times, the unfortunate tribesman chosen by lot will have been thrown onto the flames to placate and please the forbidding old Celtic gods. May Week sacrifice of rams at old sacred sites also continued well into the nineteenth century.

Today is Rood Een, on which night Highland cow sheds used to be draped with honeysuckle and rowan to protect the animals from the malign magic of witches. May Week also saw hiring fairs in which itinerant labourers attended to pick up casual agricultural work for the summer. The hiring farmers of Brigg incentivised attendance at their fairs with free beer, making Brigg Fair one of the most popular.

[sealochs]

trinity may ball | monday 17 june, 2019

[askacambridgestudent]

Does working at a may ball as a fresher mess up your may week? Is it better to just enjoy it- will you miss out on stuff if you work at one of the events?

I don’t think it would mess up your May Week at all - the only reason it might make you miss out on something would be if all your friends were going to a ball on the same evening as you were working, but if you plan that out early then you can just work another night. It’s quite a nice way to get to see the inside of some of the bigger balls without having to pay the massive pricetag. And plus, because so many people are staying up all night for balls, there isn’t all that much socialising going on in the mornings as everyone is asleep, so you’d be in the same position as everyone else at that point. I’d say go for it, because it’s a good way to make some money to spend on other balls!

[askacambridgestudent]

Wait so has may week not happened yet? Are may balls in June or July??

June - they used to be in May (hence the name) and when May Week was moved to June in like the 1880s, the name stuck! May Week starts on the 18th of June this year!

[askacambridgestudent]

What may balls are the two of you going to?

I’m not too keen on revealing my whole May Week schedule, but I will say that one of the balls I’m going to this year is Trinity! Very excited!