Calan Mai / May Day Welsh Phrases
Calan Mai
Calan Mai / May Day is called "Calan Mai" in Welsh and is celebrated on 1 May. The greeting is "Calan Mai" (First of May / May Day).
Calan Mai is the Welsh celebration of the first day of summer. Like Bealtaine in Ireland, it marks the turning point from dark to light, with traditions of dancing, flowers, and community gatherings.
Essential phrases
Calan Mai
First of May / May Day
The start of summer in the Welsh calendar
Dawnsio Mai
May dancing
Traditional May Day celebrations
Canu Haf
Summer singing
The tradition of singing to welcome summer
Blodau'r Haf
Summer flowers
Houses decorated with hawthorn and flowers
Yr Haf
Summer
The season that Calan Mai begins
Coed y Ddraenen Wen
Hawthorn / May tree
The sacred tree of Calan Mai
Coelcerth
Bonfire
Bonfires lit to welcome the warm season
Diwrnod braf
Fine day / beautiful day
What everyone hopes for on Calan Mai
Tywydd braf
Fine weather
The summer weather everyone's been waiting for
Hirddydd haf
Long summer days
The lengthening days that Calan Mai celebrates
The history of Calan Mai
Calan Mai traditions in Wales included decorating houses and doorways with hawthorn and flowers, dancing around maypoles, and the singing of 'canu haf' (summer singing) — songs to welcome the warm season. The tradition of the 'cadi' — a blackened-face figure leading May Day celebrations — was once widespread. Bonfires were lit, and the Calan Mai bonfire was the counterpart to the Calan Gaeaf bonfire in November.
Further reading
Go beyond the phrases
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