Urbana Illinois University Strauch's May Day Queen Crowned 1909 Real Photo Postcard

May Day celebrations, particularly the crowning of a May Queen, are deeply rooted in ancient pagan fertility rituals marking the arrival of spring. These traditions, prominent in pre-Christian Europe, symbolized renewal, growth, and the earth's bounty. Over centuries, they evolved, often incorporating elements like dancing around a maypole, processions, and the ceremonial selection of a young woman to personify the season's queen, a custom that continued well into the modern era.