Tuesday, May 05, 2026
Monday, May 04, 2026
Beware of Any Time Setting
Chapter 23
Beware of Any Time Setting
[Sermon at Lansing, Michigan, September 5, 1891.]
“He shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: and, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power” (Acts 1:3-7).
The disciples were anxious to know the exact time for the revelation of the kingdom of God; but Jesus tells them that they may not know the times and the seasons; for the Father has not revealed them. To understand when the kingdom of God should be restored, was not the thing of most importance for them to know. They were to be found following the Master, praying, waiting, watching, and working. They were to be representatives to the world of the character of Christ. That which was essential for a successful Christian experience in the days of the disciples, is essential in our day. “And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you.” And after the Holy Ghost was come upon them, what were they to do? “And ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:7, 8).
Improve Present Opportunities
This is the work in which we also are to be engaged. Instead of living in expectation of some special season of excitement, we are wisely to improve present opportunities, doing that which must be done in order that souls may be saved. Instead of exhausting the powers of our mind in speculations in regard to the times and seasons which the Lord has placed in His own power, and withheld from men, we are to yield ourselves to the control of the Holy Spirit, to do present duties, to give the bread of life, unadulterated with human opinions, to souls who are perishing for the truth.
“It is not for you to Know the Times or the Seasons”
[Sermon at Lansing, Michigan, September 5, 1891.]
“He shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: and, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power” (Acts 1:3-7).
The disciples were anxious to know the exact time for the revelation of the kingdom of God; but Jesus tells them that they may not know the times and the seasons; for the Father has not revealed them. To understand when the kingdom of God should be restored, was not the thing of most importance for them to know. They were to be found following the Master, praying, waiting, watching, and working. They were to be representatives to the world of the character of Christ. That which was essential for a successful Christian experience in the days of the disciples, is essential in our day. “And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you.” And after the Holy Ghost was come upon them, what were they to do? “And ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:7, 8).
Improve Present Opportunities
This is the work in which we also are to be engaged. Instead of living in expectation of some special season of excitement, we are wisely to improve present opportunities, doing that which must be done in order that souls may be saved. Instead of exhausting the powers of our mind in speculations in regard to the times and seasons which the Lord has placed in His own power, and withheld from men, we are to yield ourselves to the control of the Holy Spirit, to do present duties, to give the bread of life, unadulterated with human opinions, to souls who are perishing for the truth.
Sunday, May 03, 2026
Pressure on DOJ to prosecute Anthony Fauci grows after adviser indicted—with days left to charge COVID ‘lies’
By
Steven Nelson
Published April 28, 2026, 6:41 p.m. ET
WASHINGTON — The indictment of Dr. Anthony Fauci’s former adviser David Morens Tuesday revived calls for the Justice Department to prosecute Fauci himself for allegedly lying to Congress about funding risky research in China before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Just two weeks remain before the five-year legal deadline on May 11 to indict Fauci for denying under oath that he funded “gain of function” experiments that modified bat coronaviruses in the same city where the pandemic started.
Morens, 78, was charged with one count of conspiracy, two counts of destruction, alteration, or falsification of records in federal investigations and two counts of concealment, removal, or mutilation of records relating to the origins of COVID-19. He faces up to 51 years in prison.
Dr. Anthony Fauci allegedly lied to Congress in 2021 about funding gain of function research.Getty Images
Critics say Fauci, 85, bears the most responsibility and that he should be hauled into court.
Trump told The Post in a phone interview on March 31 that he intended to “look into” Fauci’s status and Republicans say they believe acting attorney general Todd Blanche, who is seeking the role permanently, might be willing to test Trump’s assertion that former President Joe Biden’s preemptive autopen pardons, including for Fauci, are invalid.
“99% of this country has no idea who Morens is,” said Oversight Project President Mike Howell.
“It’s Fauci that they will blame for one of the worst government catastrophes in history in America. And so the test is Fauci. The Morens indictment is great, and we applaud it. But there are a lot of people out there that want to see Fauci held to account for the damage he wrought.”
Howell, whose group sent the Justice Department a draft indictment for Morens last year, believes the adviser’s actions were closely linked to his boss.
“[Fauci] lied about one of the most damaging events in American history routinely and was behind a massive coverup of the key factors,” Howell said.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), to whom Fauci allegedly lied, told The Post that “we’ve been looking through a lot of information on this for the last year or so. The Trump administration has been much more forthcoming than the Biden administration ever was.”
Critics say Fauci, 85, bears the most responsibility and that he should be hauled into court.
Trump told The Post in a phone interview on March 31 that he intended to “look into” Fauci’s status and Republicans say they believe acting attorney general Todd Blanche, who is seeking the role permanently, might be willing to test Trump’s assertion that former President Joe Biden’s preemptive autopen pardons, including for Fauci, are invalid.
“99% of this country has no idea who Morens is,” said Oversight Project President Mike Howell.
“It’s Fauci that they will blame for one of the worst government catastrophes in history in America. And so the test is Fauci. The Morens indictment is great, and we applaud it. But there are a lot of people out there that want to see Fauci held to account for the damage he wrought.”
Howell, whose group sent the Justice Department a draft indictment for Morens last year, believes the adviser’s actions were closely linked to his boss.
“[Fauci] lied about one of the most damaging events in American history routinely and was behind a massive coverup of the key factors,” Howell said.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), to whom Fauci allegedly lied, told The Post that “we’ve been looking through a lot of information on this for the last year or so. The Trump administration has been much more forthcoming than the Biden administration ever was.”
Socialists at Mamdani’s alma mater Bowdoin to host mayor’s Israel-hating dad and Marxist influencer Hasan Piker
By
Rich Calder
Published May 2, 2026, 8:52 a.m. ET
A socialist group at Bowdoin College — Mayor Mamdani’s $94,000-a-year alma mater — is defying administrators by planning to host Hizzoner’s anti-Israel father on campus, while courting toxic Marxist influencer Hasan Piker for a separate lecture.
Administrators at the posh Maine college ordered the group, Bowdoin Socialists, in February to cease publishing online content and tone down other political activity after it released a report linking two former college trustees to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
However, the group — which calls itself an “anti-capitalist and anti-fascist coalition” and organized itself after socialist Mamdani was elected mayor in November — has enlisted free speech advocates, rejected the order and is pressing ahead.
A socialist group at NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s alma mater is reportedly thumbing its nose at the college’s administrators by planning to host Hizzoner’s radical Israel-hating father Mahmood Mamdani.Getty Images
Mamdani honed his policy and advocacy skills at the liberal arts college, where he founded a chapter of the controversial anti-Israel group Students for Justice in Palestine.
His dad, Mahmood Mamdani, a chaired professor of African history and colonialism at Columbia University, will be among the Bowdoin Socialists’ guest speakers this fall for its free lecture series, the group announced.
The elder Mamdani, 80, sits on the London-based Gaza Tribunal’s advisory policy council, an Israel-hating organization that routinely accuses the Jewish state of committing “genocide” — and has expressed sympathy for suicide bombers.
Hasan Piker interviewed Mayor Mamdani during the 2025 mayoral race.@zohrankmamdani/Instagram
Hasan Piker is a controversial lefty influencer with a vile history of calling Israelis “inbred” and claiming America “deserved 9/11.”Bloomberg via Getty Images
The Bowdoin Socialists are also “currently talking” to Piker about holding a lecture at the college, one of group’s founders, Finley Rhys, told The Maine Wire.
The controversial lefty influencer has a vile history of calling Israelis “inbred” and claiming America “deserved 9/11.”
The college has alleged the group never registered with the school and is, therefore, illegitimate, The Maine Wire reported.
Mamdani, who graduated in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in Africana studies, and reps for Bowdoin, did not return messages.
The Bowdoin Socialists defended its lecture series, saying it “reflects our interest in engaging national and international debates.”
The Bowdoin Socialists are also “currently talking” to Piker about holding a lecture at the college, one of group’s founders, Finley Rhys, told The Maine Wire.
The controversial lefty influencer has a vile history of calling Israelis “inbred” and claiming America “deserved 9/11.”
The college has alleged the group never registered with the school and is, therefore, illegitimate, The Maine Wire reported.
Mamdani, who graduated in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in Africana studies, and reps for Bowdoin, did not return messages.
The Bowdoin Socialists defended its lecture series, saying it “reflects our interest in engaging national and international debates.”
Saturday, May 02, 2026
‘A great experience’: Illinois mayors meet with Pope Leo in Rome
Alonzo Small and Lourdes Duarte
4 weeks ago
4 weeks ago
CHICAGO (WGN) — A group of (30) Illinois mayors recently ventured overseas to the Vatican to meet Pope Leo.
Matteson Mayor Sheila Chalmers-Currin, also the president of the Illinois Municipal League, led a delegation of Illinois mayors to Rome for an exclusive meeting with the first American pope. The group departed on March 28 and returned on April 2.
‘God bless the White Sox’ earns a thumbs up from Pope Leo in Rome, video shows
Speaking with WGN’s Lourdes Daurte on Friday’s Evening News at 5 p.m., Chalmers-Currin called the encounter with Pope Leo a great experience.
Matteson Mayor Sheila Chalmers-Currin, also the president of the Illinois Municipal League, led a delegation of Illinois mayors to Rome for an exclusive meeting with the first American pope. The group departed on March 28 and returned on April 2.
‘God bless the White Sox’ earns a thumbs up from Pope Leo in Rome, video shows
Speaking with WGN’s Lourdes Daurte on Friday’s Evening News at 5 p.m., Chalmers-Currin called the encounter with Pope Leo a great experience.
Photo courtesy of Sean Howard
The Jesuits: The Vatican's Secret Army
Apr 17, 2026
In 1540, a Spanish soldier who survived a cannonball created the Society of Jesus. Today, Jesuits run 840 schools educating 3 million students, including Georgetown and 26 other US universities. They've been expelled from dozens of countries, completely suppressed by the Pope in 1773, accused of assassination plots, and hunted as traitors. In 2013, Jorge Bergoglio became the first Jesuit Pope ever—something that wasn't supposed to happen. This is the complete 500-year history of the Vatican's secret army.
Shadow Empires The Secret Ties Between the CIA, ISIS, and the Vatican
By IRENE. WANJIRU · 2025
About this edition
: 9798230730750
Page count: 96
Published: February 26, 2025
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Irene Wanjiru
Language: English
Author: IRENE. WANJIRU
Shadow Empires: The Secret Ties Between the CIA, ISIS, and the Vatican
Unveiling the Hidden Forces That Shape Our World
In a world where power is wielded in the shadows, Shadow Empires pulls back the curtain on the clandestine alliances that have shaped our modern era. This gripping exposé reveals the shocking connections between three of the most powerful entities in history: the CIA, ISIS, and the Vatican. From covert operations and religious diplomacy to the rise of global terror networks, this book uncovers the hidden forces that have redefined the balance of power-and continue to influence the world today.
Delve into the CIA's secret missions, the ideological roots of ISIS, and the Vatican's enduring role in global politics. Explore how intelligence agencies have collaborated with religious institutions, how terror networks have been weaponized for political ends, and how economic control has been used as a tool of dominance. With meticulously researched case studies-including Operation Gladio, the rise of Al-Qaeda, and the Vatican's involvement in post-WWII geopolitics-Shadow Empires connects the dots between historical events and modern-day conflicts.
But this is more than a history lesson; it's a journey into the heart of darkness, where religion, politics, and intelligence collide.How do media and propaganda shape our understanding of these entities?What role do biblical prophecies and religious undertones play in the strategies of power?What are the ethical implications of these hidden alliances?
Provocative, thought-provoking, and meticulously documented, Shadow Empires challenges readers to confront the uncomfortable truths about the forces that govern our world. It's a call to question the narratives we've been fed, to seek transparency in global politics, and to understand the stakes of this unseen battle for control.
For those who dare to look beyond the surface, this book is an essential guide to understanding the hidden forces shaping our world. Are you ready to unmask the truth?
Source: Publisher
: 9798230730750
Page count: 96
Published: February 26, 2025
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Irene Wanjiru
Language: English
Author: IRENE. WANJIRU
Shadow Empires: The Secret Ties Between the CIA, ISIS, and the Vatican
Unveiling the Hidden Forces That Shape Our World
In a world where power is wielded in the shadows, Shadow Empires pulls back the curtain on the clandestine alliances that have shaped our modern era. This gripping exposé reveals the shocking connections between three of the most powerful entities in history: the CIA, ISIS, and the Vatican. From covert operations and religious diplomacy to the rise of global terror networks, this book uncovers the hidden forces that have redefined the balance of power-and continue to influence the world today.
Delve into the CIA's secret missions, the ideological roots of ISIS, and the Vatican's enduring role in global politics. Explore how intelligence agencies have collaborated with religious institutions, how terror networks have been weaponized for political ends, and how economic control has been used as a tool of dominance. With meticulously researched case studies-including Operation Gladio, the rise of Al-Qaeda, and the Vatican's involvement in post-WWII geopolitics-Shadow Empires connects the dots between historical events and modern-day conflicts.
But this is more than a history lesson; it's a journey into the heart of darkness, where religion, politics, and intelligence collide.How do media and propaganda shape our understanding of these entities?What role do biblical prophecies and religious undertones play in the strategies of power?What are the ethical implications of these hidden alliances?
Provocative, thought-provoking, and meticulously documented, Shadow Empires challenges readers to confront the uncomfortable truths about the forces that govern our world. It's a call to question the narratives we've been fed, to seek transparency in global politics, and to understand the stakes of this unseen battle for control.
For those who dare to look beyond the surface, this book is an essential guide to understanding the hidden forces shaping our world. Are you ready to unmask the truth?
Source: Publisher
P.S.
Irene Wanjiru Mbugua, a 48-year-old caregiver, was tragically k!lled by a male patient she was caring for in the UK on June 22.
Vatican Espionage:The Holy Alliance of Spies
By SPYSCAPE
Even today, the CIA is referred to as the ‘Catholic Intelligence Agency’ while the Vatican’s ties to espionage date back more than five centuries.
With the inauguration of President Ronald Reagan in 1981, Washington and Vatican City quietly made strategic contact - so too did CIA Director William Casey and special envoy Monsignor Luigi Poggi, otherwise known as the ‘Pope’s Spy’.
By the time Reagan and Pope John Paul II met face-to-face in the Vatican Library in 1982, they were ready to discuss a joint, clandestine campaign centered on Poland and designed to thwart communism and the Soviet Union. "This was one of the great secret alliances of all time," Richard Allen, Reagan's first National Security Adviser, later recalled.
Meanwhile, in the same wing of the papal apartments that day, US Secretary of State Alexander Haig and Reagan’s National Security Adviser focused on Israel’s invasion of Lebanon with their counterparts Agostino Cardinal Casaroli and Archbishop Achille Silvestrini. Unsurprisingly, many of the US players were Catholics - Haig, Casey, and US National Security Adviser William P. Clark Jr. among them.
“They regarded the US-Vatican relationship as a holy alliance: the moral force of the Pope and the teachings of their church combined with their fierce anti-communism and their notion of American democracy,” Carl Bernstein wrote in an article for Time magazine.
The religious approach to intelligence initiated by OSS pioneers Edward Lansdale and spymaster ‘Wild Bill’ Donovan in the 1940s established CIA methods and understanding of the world in the early days of the spy agencies, author Michael Graziano argues. The CIA is still referred to as ‘Catholics In Action’ and the ‘Catholic Intelligence Agency’.
What to know about Spirit Airlines as it says it is 'winding down all operations'
Headlines from ABC News Live
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
ByKelly McCarthy and Jon Haworth
May 2, 2026, 3:03 AM
Spirit Airlines says that it has "started an orderly wind-down of our operations, effective immediately" while the outcome of talks between the airline and the federal government over a $500 million rescue deal for the remains unclear.
Spirit Airlines final flight was flight 1833 which travelled from Detroit to Dallas and landed early Saturday morning just after midnight as the airline says it flew more than 50,000 passengers over the past day and is working to get more than 1,300 crew safely home to their bases.
A spokesperson for Spirit also said that the majority of the airline's employees found out about the airline's closure primarily through media reports that they were about to lose their jobs.
The airline was scheduled to operate 277 flights Saturday, according to data from Airline Data Inc, which have now all been cancelled.
"To our Guests: all flights have been cancelled, and customer service is no longer available," Spirit said in a statement on its website. "We are proud of the impact of our ultra-low-cost model on the industry over the last 34 years and had hoped to serve our Guests for many years to come."
The Wall Street Journal first reported that Spirit was preparing to shut down operations early Saturday.
Earlier Friday, President Donald Trump said an announcement about the airline rescue deal was possible.
This Is the First Thing You Should Do When You Wake Up, Says a Cleveland Clinic Gastroenterologist
Kristine Gasbarre Qaderi
Thu, April 30, 2026 at 7:02 AM EDT
This Is the First Thing You Should Do When You Wake Up, Says a Cleveland Clinic Gastroenterologist
(Tanja Ivanova/Getty Images)
Research has shown that the majority of people regard morning as the happiest time of day. It can be a space for calm, routine, and self-care before work, school, and chores start tugging at your attention.
On a similar note, an overwhelming number of Americans fuel their day with coffee—but Cleveland Clinic gastroenterology doctor, Adrienna Jirik, MD, says there’s a beverage that should precede even that uplifting caffeination: water.
We lose hydration during our sleep, Dr. Jirik explains, primarily due to a fascinating process: our system releases moisture as we breathe. She explains that in a typical eight-hour night’s sleep, “you would lose about 300 to 400 cc of water.” That’s equivalent to between approximately 10 and 14 ounces. “People have lots of [gastrointestinal] water loss,” Dr. Jirik says, referring to the subtle process as “insensible losses.”
Sweating can factor in, too, and of course the body’s release of fluid through urination. So, Dr. Jirik tells patients to drink “at least a cup of water when you wake up in the morning.”
The Cleveland Clinic adds that replenishing hydration can also stave off urinary tract infections, ignite metabolism, and improve digestion.
If you’re one of those people who just doesn’t love the taste of plain water, Dr. Jirik says seltzer water or even juice is fine—or, if you’re watching sugar intake, a splash of juice in a glass of water can make it more appealing.
Lemon water is also one way to wake up with a little flavor that also can help the liver’s natural cleansing function, while electrolyte products, such as Liquid I.V., contain minerals such as sodium and potassium that help the body actually absorb that helpful hydration.
Friday, May 01, 2026
Pope Taps Former Illegal Alien And DEI Warrior As Leading US Bishopset
(Photo by Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP via Getty Images)
Reporter
May 01, 20262:11 PM ET
Pope Leo XIV announced the new heads of several dioceses across the U.S. on Friday, including a former illegal immigrant and staunch defender of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI).
The line-up includes Father Robert Boxie III, who was selected as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., and Bishop Evelio Menjivar, who was named bishop of Wheeling-Charleston, which includes all of West Virginia, according to a statement from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington. (RELATED: DUKE: Faith Under Fire)
Menjivar, a 55-year-old native of El Salvador, previously attempted to illegally cross the U.S. border three times before he was successfully smuggled into the country in the trunk of a car in 1990, according to The Washington Post.
Menjivar then worked odd jobs before obtaining his citizenship, according to the U.S. Catholic. He was eventually chosen to be the first Salvadoran bishop in the U.S. in 2023 and an auxiliary bishop of Washington, The Washington Post reported.
NEW: Pope Leo XIV has named Salvadoran immigrant Evelio Menijar-Ayala to be West Virginia’s lone Catholic bishop.
As a teenager, he made three attempts to enter the United States illegally.
He finally arrived in California in 1990, having been smuggled in the trunk of a car… pic.twitter.com/B3nxn9xZYG
— Christopher Hale (@ChristopherHale) May 1, 2026
Pope Leo XIV announced the new heads of several dioceses across the U.S. on Friday, including a former illegal immigrant and staunch defender of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI).
The line-up includes Father Robert Boxie III, who was selected as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., and Bishop Evelio Menjivar, who was named bishop of Wheeling-Charleston, which includes all of West Virginia, according to a statement from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington. (RELATED: DUKE: Faith Under Fire)
Menjivar, a 55-year-old native of El Salvador, previously attempted to illegally cross the U.S. border three times before he was successfully smuggled into the country in the trunk of a car in 1990, according to The Washington Post.
Menjivar then worked odd jobs before obtaining his citizenship, according to the U.S. Catholic. He was eventually chosen to be the first Salvadoran bishop in the U.S. in 2023 and an auxiliary bishop of Washington, The Washington Post reported.
NEW: Pope Leo XIV has named Salvadoran immigrant Evelio Menijar-Ayala to be West Virginia’s lone Catholic bishop.
As a teenager, he made three attempts to enter the United States illegally.
He finally arrived in California in 1990, having been smuggled in the trunk of a car… pic.twitter.com/B3nxn9xZYG
— Christopher Hale (@ChristopherHale) May 1, 2026
What is May Day? For the most part, the opposite of capitalism
May Day demonstrators march through downtown Los Angeles last year. Thousands of people took to the streets across the nation that May 1 in rallies calling for immigration reform, workers' rights and police accountability.Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP
Updated May 1, 2024
May Day, celebrated by workers across the globe as International Labor Day, falls on May 1.
But you'd be forgiven if that's news to you. While the day traces its origins to an American laborers' fight for a shorter work day, the U.S. does not officially recognize International Labor Day.
Like other countries that mark Labor Days on different dates, the U.S. and Canada celebrate their Labor Day in September.
U.S. resistance to celebrate International Labor Day — also called International Workers' Day — in May stems from a resistance to emboldening worldwide working-class unity, historians say.
"The ruling class did not want to have a very active labor force connected internationally," said Peter Linebaugh, author of The Incomplete, True, Authentic, and Wonderful History of May Day. "The principle of national patriotism was used against the principle of working-class unity or trade union unity."
That hasn't stopped American workers from commemorating the day, which in recent years has ranged from marching for labor rights to reading literature about Marxism.
"The meaning of that day keeps changing," Linebaugh said.
Before we consider how May Day has evolved in the U.S., let's dive into how it all began.
9:15 AM ET
May Day, celebrated by workers across the globe as International Labor Day, falls on May 1.
But you'd be forgiven if that's news to you. While the day traces its origins to an American laborers' fight for a shorter work day, the U.S. does not officially recognize International Labor Day.
Like other countries that mark Labor Days on different dates, the U.S. and Canada celebrate their Labor Day in September.
U.S. resistance to celebrate International Labor Day — also called International Workers' Day — in May stems from a resistance to emboldening worldwide working-class unity, historians say.
"The ruling class did not want to have a very active labor force connected internationally," said Peter Linebaugh, author of The Incomplete, True, Authentic, and Wonderful History of May Day. "The principle of national patriotism was used against the principle of working-class unity or trade union unity."
That hasn't stopped American workers from commemorating the day, which in recent years has ranged from marching for labor rights to reading literature about Marxism.
"The meaning of that day keeps changing," Linebaugh said.
Before we consider how May Day has evolved in the U.S., let's dive into how it all began.
A Brief History of the Maypole Dance
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A traditional Maypole is raised in Glastonbury. Matt Cardy / Getty Images
By
Patti Wigington
Updated on June 25, 2019
The maypole dance is a spring ritual long known to Western Europeans. Usually performed on May 1 (May Day), the folk custom is done around a pole garnished with flowers and ribbon to symbolize a tree. Practiced for generations in countries such as Germany and England, the maypole tradition dates back to the dances ancient people used to do around actual trees in hopes of harvesting a large crop.
Today, the dance is still practiced and holds special significance to pagans, including Wiccans, who have made a point to take part in the same customs their ancestors did. But people both new and old to the tradition may not know the complicated roots of this simple ritual. The history of the maypole dance reveals that a variety of events gave rise to the custom.
A Tradition in Germany, Britain, and Rome
Historians have suggested that maypole dancing originated in Germany and traveled to the British Isles courtesy of invading forces. In Great Britain, the dance became part of a fertility ritual held every spring in some areas. By the Middle Ages, most villages had an annual maypole celebration. In rural areas, the maypole was typically erected on the village green, but a few places, including some urban neighborhoods in London, had a permanent maypole that stayed up year round.
The ritual was also popular in ancient Rome, however. The late Oxford professor and anthropologist E.O. James discusses the Maypole's connection to Roman traditions in his 1962 article "The Influence of Folklore on the History of Religion." James suggests that trees were stripped of their leaves and limbs, and then decorated with garlands of ivy, vines, and flowers as part of the Roman spring celebration. This may have been part of the festival of Floralia, which began on April 28. Other theories include that the trees, or poles, were wrapped in violets as an homage to the mythological couple Attis and Cybele.
Thursday, April 30, 2026
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