Spring into song

Spring's blend of optimism, fertility and new life has always stirred people into song. Duncan Haskell takes us on a lyrical journey through the melodies of the season

- Duncan Haskell

Spring is a season that demands a physical reaction. A reaction to winter's solitude that sees flowers burst into colour, birds releasing their music into the sky, and the sights and sounds of fertility and new life fill the air. It's no surprise that it's also a time of a festivity, celebration and song. For what are songs if not a reflection and extension of the human experience, our response to the gifts of nature? After months of contraction, it's time to let our voices out.

A look at the calendar throughout history shows the importance of songs in spring, which was the start of the calendar year during the Roman era. It is the time of the vernal equinox - Alban Eiler to the druids, Ostara in the pagan calendar - when the longing day finally meets the shortening night, welcomed by great festivities. As the centuries pass, new dates fill up the diary. March has its saints Patrick and Cuthbert - as well as Lady Day. April is dominated by Easter but the pageantry of St George's Day, complete with mumming performances, should not be forgotten. Then arrives May, the carnival month filled with local celebrations, such as Randwick Wap and Helston Furry Dance and, most important of all, May Day.

“It wasn't all ritual – there were practical reasons for joining together in song"

Songs, chants and other superstitions were practised to ward off bad fortune and encourage the weather required for a prosperous growing season. It wasn't all carried out in the name of ritual - there were practical reasons for joining together in song. Celebrations, both formal and informal, allowed rural communities to unite, enabling members of the opposite sex to mingle away from the glaring eyes of their families and employers. The result was a libidinous party atmosphere in which singing, dancing and drinking all played an important role.

CHURCH VS PAGAN