May Day: a celebration of Spring

Nowadays we associate May Day with a bank holiday on the first Monday in May – people often forget May Day is actually on 1^st May.  ‘May Day’ also conjures up images of people merrily dancing with ribbons round a maypole, Morris dancing and the crowning of a May Queen. Many of these traditions have their origins in the 14^th century (the Medieval period) but spring celebrations have much earlier origins.

Card showing 'Fresh Spring, the herald of love's mighty king'
Hands on History: Hull Museums

The coming of spring has always been cause for celebration.  Symbolising rebirth, it is also a key moment in the agricultural cycle when plants start to grow.  This time of year is crucial for ensuring a community’s survival and prosperity for the coming year – you need good weather in spring and summer with enough sun and rain to make sure you have a good harvest in autumn.

Almost predictably, the Romans are responsible for the earliest known May festivities.  A festival of Flora (the goddess of flowers, vegetation and fertility) called Floralia was held annually on 27^th April – 3^rd May…with an additional festival called Maiouma or Maiuma held every three years during May, celebrating Bacchus (the god of winemaking and fertility) and Venus (goddess of love and beauty).

At Hull and East Riding Museum we have a beautiful Roman mosaic which celebrates seasonality.

Rudston charioteer mosaic
Hull and East Riding Museum: Hull Museums

The Charioteer Mosaic floored a room in a Roman villa near Rudston, East Yorkshire and it’s believed to have been laid between 325 and 350AD.  The central motif is of a charioteer and each corner of the mosaic has an image showing one of the four seasons – spring, summer, autumn and winter.

In this post we’re focusing on the figure of Spring, who is shown as a female bust in a circular panel.  When looking at the mosaic as a whole, Spring is in the top right corner above the charioteer.  She is shown with a swallow on her right shoulder – a symbol of spring.

The quality of this figure is very high, it is likely this was produced by a crafts person with exceptional technical skills.  This can be seen in the delicate use and choice of colours, as well as shaped tesserae.

Female bust of 'Spring' from the Rudston Charioteer mosaic
Hull and East Riding Museum: Hull Museums

Her hair, is natural in appearance with golden highlights.  The use of shade and tone is also reflected in the figure’s skin, using a variety of flesh tones to create the image with brighter colours forming highlights on her forehead, cheeks and neck.

This delicacy and skill extends to the mouth: the lower lip is shown with a single red tesserae, a single white piece for teeth, a line of red tesserae for the upper lip and another single white tesserae showing the light catching the skin between the nose and mouth.

The sensitive handling of the portrait of Spring is exceptional.  It is among one of the best examples of Roman mosaic art in Britain.

This skill, which is also visible in the central design of the charioteer, starkly contrasts with other elements of the mosaic which are less sensitive and probably produced by other crafts people.  Don’t take our word for it though!  Come along to Hull and East Riding Museum and make up your own mind.