May queen
Festival flower monarch
A May queen is a girl or young woman chosen to preside over May Day festivities, traditionally crowned with flowers and honored as a symbol of spring.
The custom dates to medieval European celebrations of the first of May: She was crowned May queen and led the dancers around the maypole.
- MaypoleDecorated post for dancing
- BeltaneCeltic spring fire festival
- bloomFlower or flourishing state
- flower crownHead ornament of blossoms
- dressSkirted one-piece garment
folk tradition · crown · rose · wreath · Folklore · garland · ribbon · dancing girls · Flora · Nature · white dress · bouquet · daisy · petal · Beauty · maiden · spring equinox · festival
seasonal/symbolic association
May queencrone
Wizened old woman
harvest queen · ice queen · hag · old maid
beauty/selection criteria
May queenugly duckling
Initially unpromising eventual success
ugly · unremarkable · unnoticed · unpicked · also-ran