Jirina Judas May 4, 2013:

Thanks for the link, Scott!

Scott Evan Andrews (asker) May 3, 2013:

Vlado: it's my fault that I did not point out that this is the narrator's speech (David Cerny) in a film...that has its own set of rules and there's no time of course for explaining such a small detail of a massive subject. It happens to concern Alan Ginzburg's trip to Prague when it all looked like things might open up.

Vladimír Hoffman May 3, 2013:

Scott I would use Majales, maybe with short explanation.
See http://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/ACFB31.pdf

Scott Evan Andrews (asker) May 3, 2013:

I would only add that Maria's link to WiKi's May Day is the best starting point so far to try to put history and present into some context

Scott Evan Andrews (asker) May 3, 2013:

I hate to say it but I had to hurry and we've already used something. I'm doing voice-over work for an extremely important Czech documentary film (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1vDoGT3VSg) Vrahem z povolani, btw watch it if you care for history, this story will make your toes curl...I like elements of both Rad and Marie's answer, I won't say yet what I used in case somebody guesses...I'm happy with what I chose, and proud to be the English voice of this horrible horrible man, Karel Vas, let every Czech see it, get angry and help get this reoccuring red tide out of our lives forever, from Zlin and elsewhere!

Hannah Geiger (X) May 3, 2013:

off topic, but not really zde je něco z historie, pokud má někdo zájem
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/kral-majales-king-of-may/

Hannah Geiger (X) May 3, 2013:

wikipedia má odkazy na May Ball i.e. na studentský život, jinak zde je celkem zajímavý odkaz.
http://ginsbergblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/allen-ginsberg-king...

Lubomir Moudry May 3, 2013:

Yes, will take one tonight with you but not sure if we can touch the glasses.
The story might even have begun here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maia_(mythology)#Roman_Maia. Hopefully, Scott is happy with any of suggestions here and can have a good time too :-)

Stuart Hoskins May 3, 2013:

I thought it was obvious that Scott was going to use the original and then an approximation. It would be interesting to see whether the Austrians had such a celebration (presumably they did, as Wikipedia says it didn't migrate to the Czech Lands until the 18th century), what they call(-ed) it (presumably something similar, if it's from Latin), whether the tradition has survived, and how it is treated in English. Too much work for a Friday afternoon... How about discussing it over a beer instead?

Lubomir Moudry May 3, 2013:

Yes I would prefer seeing "Majáles" as well but something has to be added then for the foreigner to understand. I would still call it "festival", i.e. Majáles, an annual student festival. I would add something like the "old days" festival but it is not correct anymore.

Jirina Judas May 3, 2013:

I wouldn't translate it. It is a celebration specific to students in Czech universities since 15th century. It is not a carnival or a rag or a festival.

Lubomir Moudry May 3, 2013:

More discussion needed? Well, the tradition is very long and in former times having fun and protesting was the core activity and focus. I think that nowadays in CZ it may take the form of charitable events (like in the UK?) but (like many things today) is also greatly influenced by commerce and personal interests.
I am not sure if May Day is always the time of the celebrations today. For example, this http://www.majales.cz/ calls the participant to come in different days around May Day. I think it may also be driven by the availability of "main stars". I would simply suggest "May Student Festival" or maybe even "Majáles - the May Student Festival" - if the context clearly says where it takes place. i.e. CZ.

Scott Evan Andrews (asker) May 3, 2013:

sorry but May Day's something different

Scott Evan Andrews (asker) May 3, 2013:

Hannah do you mean like in general, because here Zlin celebrates "Fasank", or vodeni medvedu, aka Marti Gras or carnival, and this one for instance is on April 26...I can see carnival only in an extremely general sense.....http://majales.osu.cz/web/