McDougall Cottage Historic Site Event

$3 per child plus HST, adults by cash donation.

The Gaelic May Day (also known as the fire festival, Beltane) traditionally marked the peak of spring and the beginning of summer. It honoured fertility and a period when life was bursting forth. At this time, all household fires would be doused and then re-lit from special Beltane bonfires. The flames, smoke, and ashes from these fires were deemed to have powers that encouraged crop growth and protected the people, crops, and cattle as they were being driven out to the summer pastures. Young women traditionally rose early to wash their faces in the dew of the Beltane morning, to bring beauty and maintain youthfulness.

Join us as we celebrate May Day with music, Morris dancing, and Maypole festivities. Musicians Brad McEwen and Paul Morris, along with the Orange Peel and Forest City Morris dance troupes, will be on hand to help us usher in the summer in a most traditional manner.

Crafty children can also create a fun Spring craft to take home.

MAY DAY Schedule

1:00-1:30 p.m. – Music (Brad McEwen and Paul Morris)

1:30-2:00 p.m. – Morris Dancing

2:00-2:30 p.m. – Music (Brad McEwen and Paul Morris)

2:30-3:00 p.m. – Morris Dancing

3:00-3:30 p.m. – Maypole Dancing

About Paul and Brad:

Paul Morris (Melodeon and Vocals) and Brad McEwen (Citterns and Vocals) are two musicians based in Cambridge, Ontario, who perform mainly traditional dance tunes and songs from the British Isles. Paul is originally from Yorkshire and Brad is a third generation resident of Galt. He is the founder and Artistic Director of the Mill Race Festival of Traditional Folk Music. They have been playing together for many years in the band Tethera and bring a relaxed and informal style to their performances.