The First of May Lyrics
Get up at dawn on the first of May, wash your face in the dew from the hawthorn tree, and you will be beautiful forever. Or so this old rhyme promises.
The First of May
The fair maid who, the first of May,
Goes to the fields at break of day,
And washes in dew from the hawthorn-tree,
Will ever after handsome be.
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/the-first-of-may/
- Type
- Mother Goose
- Tune
- Spoken rhyme
- Best for ages
- 4 to 9 years
What Does The First of May Mean?
The rhyme describes an old May Day custom. A girl who goes out into the fields at break of day (sunrise) on the first of May and washes her face in the dew on the hawthorn tree will always be handsome, meaning good-looking. The hawthorn flowers in May, which is why it is also called the may tree.
History and Origin
The rhyme is printed in The Real Mother Goose (1916). Washing in May dew was a real custom in parts of Britain, and May Day was celebrated with flowers, garlands and dancing around the maypole.
Learning Activities
- May morning: go outside early on a spring morning and look for dew on the grass.
- Hawthorn hunt: look for white hawthorn blossom in hedges in May.
- Flower garland: make a simple paper flower garland for May Day.