I am curious in asking if the Roosevelts placed importance on May 1 in honor of their sympathies for the Communists.It is a traditional workers party holiday. I mean no disrespect. However , they were particularly enamored with the Soviets during this period.
I was actually wondering that same thing when I was looking for potential May Day images to share. Franklin in particular never quite saw the dangers posed by Stalin the way Churchill did, and certainly during WW2 thought he could charm Stalin the way he did most people. It’s a surprising lapse in his normally sound political instincts. Eleanor was a bit of a different story. After the war for instance she was one of the founders of Americans for Democratic Action (ADA). I think she was observing May Day 1934 here in its older incarnation, which dates back centuries. There is the whole idea of the Maypole and the May Queen, for instance.
We have been open down here in Texas, Keith, for a long time now. I pray the citizens of the great State of New York get better leadership sooner than later. Godspeed, Keith !
The Strawfoot 
I am curious in asking if the Roosevelts placed importance on May 1 in honor of their sympathies for the Communists.It is a traditional workers party holiday. I mean no disrespect. However , they were particularly enamored with the Soviets during this period.
I was actually wondering that same thing when I was looking for potential May Day images to share. Franklin in particular never quite saw the dangers posed by Stalin the way Churchill did, and certainly during WW2 thought he could charm Stalin the way he did most people. It’s a surprising lapse in his normally sound political instincts. Eleanor was a bit of a different story. After the war for instance she was one of the founders of Americans for Democratic Action (ADA). I think she was observing May Day 1934 here in its older incarnation, which dates back centuries. There is the whole idea of the Maypole and the May Queen, for instance.
Here is a little bit more on May Day traditions as once practiced in America:
https://www.npr.org/sections/npr-history-dept/2015/04/30/402817821/a-forgotten-tradition-may-basket-day
Thanks, Keith, very informative.
Thanks, Randall. I hope you have been well. Here is to the world opening up again in the coming weeks and months.
We have been open down here in Texas, Keith, for a long time now. I pray the citizens of the great State of New York get better leadership sooner than later. Godspeed, Keith !