Why do we actually dance to welcome May?

Sometimes a moment like that is all it takes—and children immediately sense that something is different today.

Let's be honest:
The “Dance into May” just kind of happens every year.
You hear about it, maybe see some music, lights, and people outside somewhere—and if you’re not sure, you just join in a little.

But when a child suddenly asks: "Why do we actually dance into May?"

Then you quickly realize: The answer isn't quite that clear.

The simple explanation

We dance into May because people have been celebrating spring for a very long time.
Specifically, at the very moment when you realize: Winter is truly over.

What was behind it back then

In the past, winter was more than just cold and dark. It was long, often exhausting—and above all, palpable.

When the days started getting brighter again, that was a real turning point.

The night of April 30 to May 1, Walpurgis Night, was used for exactly that purpose:
to leave winter behind and welcome spring.
With fire.
With music.
And, of course, with dancing.

Not as a party—but as a symbol: Something new is about to begin.

Why dancing, of all things?

Dancing is actually pretty simple.
All you need is:
no rules,
no goal,
no perfect moment.

And that's exactly what makes it so fitting.
Because a transition—like the one from winter to spring—rarely feels planned.
It just happens.

Dancing is a way to make exactly that visible.

Is that something only we in Germany do?

Not quite.
Many countries have similar customs—just under different names.
For example, in Ireland and Scotland, people celebrate the spring festival Beltane. There, too, the focus is on fire, new beginnings, and the start of the warm season.
And in Sweden, people gather around the maypole, singing and celebrating together outdoors.

The idea is much the same everywhere: Winter is ending—and life is returning.

And today?

These days, hardly anyone thinks of old rituals when it comes to the “Dance into May.”
And yet it still feels familiar.
Maybe because we still know that feeling:
that something is changing.
The air feels different.
The evenings are getting longer.
We’re spending more time outdoors again.

It's as if the year were taking a brief breather.

What about children?

With kids, a tradition like this rarely turns into a big event.
It’s more of a moment.
Maybe there’s music playing in the background.
Maybe someone just starts dancing.
Maybe it’s just a few minutes before everyday life takes over again.

And yet, children can sense it quite clearly: Today is a little different.
Not because everything is perfect.
But because you’re consciously aware of it.

Maybe that's exactly the point

You don't have to make a big deal out of the May Dance to understand it.
It’s enough to just take a moment to enjoy it.
A little music.
An open window.

A moment that feels lighter than usual.

And maybe that's exactly why this tradition still exists: because it reminds us that you don't always need a lot for something to feel new.