
God Save the Queen
Celebrating the British Empire
Cumberland’s first May Day celebration (then referred to as “Empire Days”) was reportedly held in May 1888 to celebrate Queen Victoria’s birthday. However the first official mention of Cumberland’s May Day celebration was in June 1891 by the Nanaimo Free Press.
May Day celebrations date back to ancient European agricultural rituals. Similar festivals were celebrated by the Greeks and Romans to ensure a good harvest, and medieval May Day celebrations in Europe marked the return of spring.
Crowning a May Queen became part of the festivities in 1919, with Jessie Stevenson claiming the inaugural crown.

Today Cumberlanders continue to celebrate May Days with a parade, music, dancing, sports, games, decoration, and dancing around a maypole.
