Music is a way to welcome spring and connect students with a rich cultural tradition.
Find out how to celebrate May Day at school with music.
May Day, celebrated on the 1st of May, is a vibrant tradition in the UK that welcomes the arrival of spring. For generations, schools across the country have embraced the season with joyful festivities—many of which include music, dance, and colourful displays. Using music in May Day celebrations brings energy, fun, and a sense of tradition into the classroom and the playground.
Music not only sets the tone for celebration, but also helps children connect with cultural heritage in a hands-on and memorable way. Whether it’s learning a traditional dance, singing folk songs, or trying out rhythmic patterns with instruments, there are plenty of creative ways to make May Day musical and meaningful for students of all ages.
Table of Contents
- What is May Day in the UK?
- How to Celebrate May Day with Music
- Conclusion
What is May Day in the UK?
May Day in the UK is a celebration of springtime, growth, and new beginnings. Traditionally, it marks a time to enjoy the outdoors, decorate with flowers, and participate in folk customs.
School celebrations often include dancing around a maypole, crowning a May Queen, and engaging in fun seasonal activities. The festival has deep roots in English history and folklore, making it an excellent opportunity for students to learn about local culture and tradition through joyful, musical experiences.
How to Celebrate May Day with Music
1
Dance around the maypole with traditional music
One of the most iconic May Day activities is maypole dancing.
Children hold colourful ribbons attached to a tall central pole and move in patterns to traditional folk tunes. Teachers can play live or recorded music with a steady beat, guiding students through simple weaving or circle movements.
This activity encourages teamwork, coordination, and a connection to cultural history.
2
Sing classic English folk songs
Folk songs are a great way to bring May Day to life in the classroom.
Choose simple, age-appropriate English folk songs such as “Early One Morning” or “The Oak and the Ash.”
NOTE:
When singing English folk songs in class or at home, it’s a good idea for teachers / parents / caregivers to provide brief, age-appropriate context for certain words or phrases that may seem outdated, confusing, or carry different meanings today.
How to explain it (simply and sensitively):
- Be clear and neutral:
“In older songs, ‘gay’ meant happy or bright — that’s how it’s being used here.” - Encourage curiosity:
“A ‘maid’ in this song means a young woman — people used different words a long time ago.” - Relate to history:
“This song was written hundreds of years ago. Some of the words and values were different then.” - Make it interactive:
Consider creating a “folk song glossary” as a classroom activity.
Early One Morning
LYRICS :
Early one morning,
Just as the sun was rising,
I heard a young maid sing,
In the valley below.
CHORUS:
Oh, don’t deceive me,
Oh, never leave me,
How could you use
A poor maiden so?
Remember the vows,
That you made to your Mary,
Remember the bow’r,
Where you vowed to be true.
Oh, don’t deceive me,
Oh, never leave me,
How could you use
A poor maiden so?
Oh Gay is the garland,
And fresh are the roses,
I’ve culled from the garden,
To place upon thy brow.
Oh, don’t deceive me,
Oh, never leave me,
How could you use
A poor maiden so?
Thus sang the poor maiden,
Her sorrows bewailing,
Thus sang the poor maid,
In the valley below.
Oh, don’t deceive me,
Oh, never leave me,
How could you use
A poor maiden so?
The Oak and the Ash
LYRICS :
1. A North County maid up to London had strayed,
Although with her nature it did not agree,
She wept and she sighed and so bitterly she cried,
I wish once again in the North I could be,
Where the Oak and the Ash and the bonny ivy tree,
They flourish at home in my own country.
2. While sadly I roam, I regret my dear home
Where young lads and young lasses are making the hay,
The bells they do ring and the birds sweetly sing,
the fields and the gardens are pleasant and gay,
Oh, the Oak and the Ash and the bonny ivy tree,
They flourish at home in my own country.
3. No doubt, did I please, I could marry with ease,
where maidens are fair, many lovers will come.
But the one whom I wed must be North Country bred,
And carry me back to my North Country home,
Oh, the Oak and the Ash and the bonny ivy tree,
They flourish at home in my own country.
Singing together fosters a sense of community and helps students develop musical confidence while learning about the stories and values passed down through generations.
3
Play live or recorded Morris dance music
Morris dancing is a traditional English folk dance performed with bells, sticks, and lively steps.
Even if students aren’t dancing themselves, playing Morris dance music in the background can introduce them to its energetic rhythms and festive spirit.
If possible, invite a local Morris dance group for a demonstration, or use recordings to let students experience this unique musical tradition.
4
Teach students simple May Day songs and rhymes
Simple May Day songs and rhymes, especially those that celebrate spring, flowers, or nature, are perfect for younger students. Use call-and-response or echo-style songs to keep things interactive and easy to follow.
Here are some simple May Day songs and rhymes perfect for primary school children:
1
Come, Lasses and Lads
This is a classic May Day song and still performed today in traditional events or reenactments.
Come, Lasses and Lads, take leave of your Dads,
And away to the Maypole hie.
For ev'ry fair has a sweetheart there,
And the fiddler's standing by.
Then Willie shall dance with Jane,
And Johnny has got his Joan,
And trip it, trip it, trip it, trip it
Trip it up and down.
And trip it, trip it, trip it, trip it
Trip it up and down.
You're out, says Dick, Not I, says Nick
'Twas the fiddler play'd it wrong
'Tis true, says Hugh, and so says Sue
And so says every one
The fiddler then began
To play the tune again
And trip it, trip it, trip it, trip it
Trip it up and down.
And trip it, trip it, trip it, trip it
Trip it up and down.
2
Here We Go Round the Maypole High
(Sung to the tune of “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush”)
VIDEO
AUDIO ONLY
1
Here we go round the maypole high,
maypole high, maypole high,
Here we go round the maypole high,
On a bright May morning!
2
This is the way we skip and twirl,
skip and twirl, skip and twirl,
This is the way we skip and twirl,
on a bright May morning!
3
This is the way we wave our scarves,
wave our scarves, wave our scarves,
This is the way we wave our scarves,
on a bright May morning!
4
This is the way we clap our hands,
clap our hands, clap our hands,
This is the way we clap our hands,
on a bright May morning!
5
This is the way we dance with joy,
dance with joy, dance with joy,
This is the way we dance with joy,
on a bright May morning!
6
Here we go round the maypole high,
maypole high, maypole high,
Here we go round the maypole high,
On a bright May morning!
3
Spring Is Here
(Sung to the tune of “London Bridge Is Falling Down”)
Video
Audio Only
Spring is here, oh yes it is,
Yes it is, yes it is,
Spring is here, oh yes it is,
Happy May Day!
4
Cuckoo Song (Traditional)
This is a simplified version of a very old English May song (Sumer is icumen in), great for older children.
Summer is a-coming in,
Loudly sing cuckoo!
Groweth seed and bloweth mead
And springeth the wood now.
These songs can be performed during an assembly, outdoor gathering, or as part of a themed music lesson.
5
Use percussion instruments to explore folk rhythms
Bring the music to life by letting students play along with folk tunes using percussion instruments like tambourines, hand drums, or bells. This gives them a hands-on experience of the rhythm and feel of traditional music.
You can keep it simple by having them tap along with the beat or create short rhythmic patterns inspired by the music of May Day.
Conclusion
Celebrating May Day at school with music is a joyful way to welcome spring and connect students with a rich cultural tradition. Through singing, dancing, and hands-on music-making, children can explore the festive spirit of May Day while building musical skills and creating lasting memories.
Whether indoors or out on the playground, a little music can make your school’s May Day celebration truly magical.
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