(the month)
Oddly, though the literary associations of this month are with blossoming love, and its customs are all joyous, several widespread superstitions count it unlucky. Cats born in May are useless and should be drowned at birth; ‘May-babies, like May kittens, are said to be weakly and unlikely to thrive’ (Folk-Lore 68 (1957), 413; cf. N&Q 1s:7 (1853) 152); the broom brings death; boys born in May are particularly cruel to animals (N&Q 12s:4 (1918) 133, 172, 257-8).
Most often mentioned is the idea that May marriages will prove unhappy. The belief is undoubtedly ancient, as Ovid mentions it (Fasti: V v. ii. 487-90); its first known airing in English, in Poor Robin's Almanack for 1675, treats it as already proverbial. Yet, however well-known, it does not seem to have been translated into action; George Monger's research (Folklore 105 (1994), 104-8) presents figures showing that despite fluctuations at different periods May has never been the least popular month for weddings, and sometimes was one of the most favoured.
See also May Day, May Dew.
Bibliography
The full bibliography list is available here.
- Opie and Tatem, 1989: 240-6
- Lean, 1902-1904: N&Q
1s:3 (1851) 20 1s:7 (1853) 152
