Although May 1 just passed, I want to introduce you to some of the significance of the day. First of all, May Day dates to around 2 A.D. It had its origins in the festivals of Europe.

I recall the Campus School in Fredonia celebrating May Day. One year I attended the ceremony because my cousin was part of it. She attended the Campus School and was chosen I believe as a “flower girl”. We all gathered around a Maypole that had ribbons flowing from it. The ribbons were held by children who helped to weave them around the Maypole. It was a little dance of sorts with some music.

The whole school was out on the lawn along with many people from the community. It was a solemn occasion, but it was fun. The day was to celebrate the onset of summer or rather the time about halfway through the spring season when flowers were in bloom.

May Baskets were made by students to be given to neighbors and friends. The idea was to ring the doorbell, then run so the homeowner found a surprise when they opened the door.

I remember having a class make May Baskets that we distributed to neighbors. The children were excited to be able to give them away.

May 1 is also Law Day. That tradition began 67 years ago. The American Bar Association is the sponsor of this event. Each year senior students go to the courthouse in Warren County to celebrate Law Day. The idea is for them to learn about the part that law plays in the government. I never paid much attention to this day. My daughter is a lawyer and has taken part in the day. I also recall her participating in it while in high school. For many of the students it is simply a day away from studies.

As I looked to see the theme for 2025, I was intrigued. William R. Bay, president of the ABA had this to say about the celebration.

“It is a national day set aside to celebrate the rule of law. Law Day provides an opportunity to understand how law and the legal process protect our liberty, strive to achieve justice, and contribute to the freedom that all Americans share.”

The theme for 2025 is “The Constitution’s Promise: Out of Many, One. This seems to be particularly poignant this year. According to Bay, “We brought one great country out of 13 colonies that had many differences. It reflected a belief that we could work together. That was the promise of our Constitution which has really stood the test of time.”

We have operated under this Constitution for the past nearly 250 years. We will celebrate that milestone in 2026.

Never has our union been tested as it is today. What has happened to the idea of reconciling our differences? Certainly, we do not have as many differences as there were when the Constitution was drafted.

Maybe we need to focus on the things that make us alike. We are all human beings. We all have needs. We all have responsibilities. Our rights hinge on the performance of the government – as a whole. The system of checks and balances instituted by the Constitution keeps all of the departments in check. This was done intentionally by the drafters of the Constitution. It is how things are supposed to be. The Constitution is not outdated. It is still pertinent. It is still binding. Now we just need to relearn how to work together for the good of the country.

Ann Swanson writes from her home in Russell. Contact her at hickoryheights1@verizon.net.