Fetching the elm on May Eve in Cornwall

30 April

No longer kept

Borlase wrote that the Cornish people of the towns went out into the country on May Eve and cut down a tall elm, which they brought back with rejoicing. They fitted a straight tapering pole to the end of it, painted it and set it up in the most public place in the town. On holidays and festivals afterwards it was dressed with garlands of flowers, or with flags and streamers.

they make incursions, on May Eve, into the country, cut down a tall elm, bring it into the town with rejoicings

From Brand's Popular Antiquities, vol. 1, p. 237. Read the original

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Folklore from the old calendars

The May bush in Westmeath No longer kept LeinsterSir Henry Piers wrote in 1682 that on May Eve every family in Westmeath set up a green bush before its door, strewn over with the yellow flowers that the meadows yielded in plenty.
Dun-pickles on the downs Lore and belief WiltshireIt was said in Wiltshire that the dun-pickles, or moor buzzards, came down in great numbers on the downs before rain.
The storm cock Lore and belief EnglandBefore a storm the mistle thrush was said to sing especially loud and to keep on singing until the rain began, and for this it was called the storm cock in some places.
The Swinton May-singers No longer kept LancashireIn 1861 a man at Swinton, near Eccles, was surprised one April evening by a party of singers on his lawn with a flute and a clarinet.

Fetching the elm on May Eve in Cornwall

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