All Episodes

May 1, 2025 22 mins

What do ancient fertility rituals, medieval village dances, Puritan crackdowns, and labour strikes have in common? May Day.

In this episode, we trace the surprising journey of May 1st — from its pagan roots in Beltane and bonfires, to the colourful folk traditions of Maypole dancing, to its radical reinvention as International Workers’ Day. Along the way, we’ll meet Puritans who tried to ban it, revolutionaries who turned it into a political symbol, and the everyday people who kept it alive in one form or another for over a thousand years.

This is the story of a holiday that’s been many things — sacred, subversive, and celebratory — but never easy to erase.

Find us on socials
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/intellectualpotluck/
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ip.podcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/intellectualpotluck

Mark as Played

Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

Stuff You Should Know
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang

Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang

Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.

Crime Junkie

Crime Junkie

Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.