Sometimes words in the English language can do “a complete 180” with just an inadvertent flick on the space bar. In a draft for this column, I caused such a turnaround when I started writing about the event that was brought to mind this past Wednesday. May 1st was Mayday. Well, actually it was May Day which historically is a time for celebration. Nobody would conceive of celebrating Mayday which is a universally recognized distress call, that we will explore later.

So, let us first delve into the history of the celebratory May Day. The first of May is annually observed as May Day. It symbolizes the welcomed transition to spring and summer. Beginning around the eighth century BC, I think on a Tuesday afternoon, the Celts of the British Isles welcomed the warmth of spring by releasing their livestock to summer pastures. Bonfires were lit around the countryside and meals were shared with neighbors. Rituals were performed to protect crops, cattle and people. 

Eventually, May Day evolved with numerous traditions. The Romans took time off from slaughtering the Gauls to advance the festival of Flora, the goddess of flowers. Dwellings were festooned with decorative blooms and garlands.

In medieval times, maypoles became a common symbol of May Day. Villages erected tall poles and people would dance around it, weaving ribbons in patterns. I imagine that some sort of alcohol was involved to add to the merriment hoping it bring good fortune. NOTE TO MY READERS- In the previous paragraph I finally got to use, for the first time as a columnist, the often-forgotten word “festooned.” And yes, it is a real word!

In the 19th century the significance of May Day took a somber turn. The Industrial Revolution led to awful unhealthy working conditions and long hours. Labor unions began popping up to get fair and better working conditions for the laborers.

Riots ensued, including the infamous one at the Haymarket in Chicago on May 4, 1886. What began as a peaceful rally to support the workers who were striking for an eight-hour workday ended tragically when a bomb was tossed at the nearby police. To commemorate that event, May Day was chosen as International Workers Day in 1889.

That brings us to Mayday, the internationally recognized distress signal. To be used only in the face of imminent danger, Mayday is a declaration of a life-threatening emergency. It is a call for immediate help.

With the common usage of radio communications in the early 20th century, it became clear that there was a need for an easily recognized distress call that could be understood by operators who spoke many different languages. It is believed that the term “Mayday” derives from the French expression “m’aidez,” meaning “help me.”

The English term “Mayday” was first used in 1923 by Frederick Stanley Mockford. He was a senior radio officer at the Croydon Airport in London. Since most of the air traffic was between Paris and London, he chose the word “Mayday” because it would be understood in France and England.

There is a protocol that must be followed when it is necessary to make a Mayday call. The signal must be spoken three times in a row. “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday.” That ensures the clarity of the signal calling for immediate assistance.

If a pilot of an airplane is in trouble, besides the triple Mayday signal, he or she must include many particulars including the type of aircraft, how many passengers are on board, where they are headed and the nature of the emergency.

Hopefully, you are never in a situation that requires a “Mayday” call. However, here’s hoping you welcome the coming of spring by celebrating May Day for years to come. Join in the traditional way by leaving the maypole festooned with ribbons and garlands. And yes, I found a way to use “festooned” again.

Hudson Cooper is a resident of Sullivan County, a writer, comedian and actor.