PLEASE NOTE ~ Bailey’s blue dress set ends this evening on Ebay. You can see it by clicking on the picture at the right side bar or you can click HERE.
You know what that means? It means Dorothy, in PA, is very happy!! She said she’s dancing because there will be no more snow for months and months! She’s been counting down since 59 days ago…and Dorothy, it’s MAY 1st…so this post is dedicated to you!
I looked up some history about the Maypole celebration and there were lots of pictures so that’s what I’m mostly sharing today… a colorful post to make you smile. There was the occasional story about the Maypole being a pagan holiday and some really crude descriptions of what it may have represented long ago, but I liked what I read in one that said it was “just a fun and wonderful celebration where maypoles were erected “simply” as signs that the happy season of warmth and comfort had returned.” That’s what I’m suggesting it is from my pictures. I hope you enjoy them…and then there’s a surprise at the end…
Some, but not all of the pictures will enlarge if you click on them… the ones that do enlarge are really beautiful to look at up close.
Even the rain doesn’t stop the Maypole Dance!
I found this picture of how the ribbons are woven during the dance…
I’ve only done one dress…for Kirsten… with a Maypole. This was my attempt at how it might have looked in her day…If you’d like to read my post about how it was set up… (It wasn’t pretty) you can click HERE.
I hope you enjoyed that!
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh, what fun!! And doesn’t the pole itself look pretty with all the ribbons woven around it?! So interesting, too, to see the directions for how to “weave” the ribbons in the dance!
I was hoping you might have found some pictures of the Swedish maypole dance, too–I googled “Swedish Maypole” (and you can also google “Swedish Maypole dance”, “”Midsummer in Sweden”, etc.) and came up with quite a few. Their maypole has a covering of greenery, with a crossbar near the top and two rings of greenery just below the crossbars. I don’t know if a link will show up in our comments here, but this is one that has some of the history as well as a few pictures: http://realscandinavia.com/midsummer-in-sweden-origins-and-traditions/ (If the link didn’t show up, and you want it, email me and I’ll send it to you privately.)
However, you did have Kirsten in her beautiful Maypole-dance outfit, and I love that!! I think that must have been before I started getting your blog, because I don’t remember it. (If I had seen it, I have a hunch that My Kirsten would have ended up with it!!)
So, happy May Day, everyone! I wish the kids still made paper “baskets” and brought flowers to the neighbors like we did back in Mich. in the 1950s! Out here in the Seattle area, May Day means one thing: protests in the street, sometimes with violence and vandalism. Ugh….
Sadly times have changed. I love the idea of the May baskets.
Good morning, Jeanne! Oh, I simply love the maypole traditions! And yes, Charlotte, I too, remember the May 1st basket filled with flowers, well, at least the kind we were allowed to pick, like dandelions, and maybe a sprig of Bridal Wreath from one of our yards! We would make those paper woven baskets, fill with flowers, and put them on the neighbor’s porch or steps in the front, ring the doorbell and run! We did that in Missouri too! Maybe it is a Midwestern thing——and maybe a 40’s and 50’s thing!!
The girls school where my daughter works, is an upscale place, and they have a huge Maypole Dance every year. It is very organized, they practice the dancing for weeks, and everything is color coordinated. In other words, if the girl has a pink ribbon, she wears a white dress with a pink sash, and her whole family is there and wears pink too, yes, even the brothers and fathers! It is quite the event!
I remember Kirsten’s dress, and the Maypole you made! I love that and every time you bring up Kirsten doing anything, I wish I had gotten her and her lovely collection. It’s one of a kind!
Well, if today was for the Maypole dance, it would be a very soggy one!
I loved reading about the May Day celebration at the school where your daughter works. If you ever have pictures of that please share. Obviously it’s a private school because I don’t think you can do May Day in public schools. Not since the early 1960s.
Barbara, yes, it is a private Catholic school, Villa Duchesne, and they have several youtube videos. If you just write “Villa Duchesne May Pole Dance”, in your browser, you will get 3 different videos. The first is rather long, if you have the time, from 2018, the second is much shorter, and the one I like since it is close up of the girls, and from 2015, the third is too long for me, or just not what I had the time to look at.
I can’t for the life of me figure out how they keep those ribbons from getting all messes up! It takes a lot of practice!
I remember Maypole fondly from Catholic School. We were required to wear white dresses which was a nice change from the navy blue uniform worn daily.
A quick lesson though on Christian holidays and events…they all have Pagan roots or as I like to say have Pagan DNA. Easter, Christmas, Holiday, etc all started as Pagan events/holidays. Maypole included. That is why if you research it you’ll find that it started out as a Pagan day of celebration and joy. Sadly people are very uneducated on the being Pagan or Wiccan (and there is a difference) and their first thought is “oh, they are a witch” or better yet “they sacrifice small animals.” or my favorite “they worship Satan. Which is totally wrong.
“Historians believe the first maypole dance originated as part of Germanic pagan fertility rituals.”
My ancestry is Celtic (Scottish, Irish, Welsh) and I’ve done a lot of studying on the heritage. When Christianity was brought to the Celtic people, it was found to be easier when Christian holidays were held simultaneous to the Pagan holidays that were already being celebrated. People were less resistant to the changes. Sadly the definition of Paganism has been very distorted. If you really look at the Pagan holidays, they celebrate and revere the earth – and they didn’t involve human, or otherwise, sacrifice. Many think that Halloween is a Satanic holiday, but it’s actually a very spiritual celebration where it was thought people could connect with those who passed before them and gain from their life experiences. To keep the evil spirits away they used to carve turnips like we do pumpkins.
Happy May 1st day everyone! Hopefully everyone has good weather today, in which they can enjoy the great outdoors. Flowers are blooming and all the plant centers have their gorgeous flowers on display.
Kirsten looks adorable in her Maypole outfit and it was so clever of you to make a maypole for Kirsten’s photo shoot. I vaguely remember your description of making the maypole. It turned out wonderful and Kirsten’s outfit, with the beautiful vivid pink bodice is beautiful. The flowers in her hair to her sweet apron are wonderful.
The picture of the little girls with their aprons on, is so cute. Kirsten could have been standing right along side them! What a fun post!
We made cone shaped baskets with ribbon handles or bought those tiny cute plastic one, and added candy and flowers. We put them on doorknobs or porches and knocked and ran too. A few years ago, I heard a knock and went to the door and my neighbor was halfway to the stairs. She said, “Oh, Marilyn, it’s the running part that’s hard.” She was 90 and had hoped somehow to disappear before I got to the door. What a lovely person, and how nice to think of her this rainy morning. The snow has almost entirely melted and the crab apple is beginning to blossom.
Thank you so much for these pictures, Jeanne. The ones where the ribbons are making that beautiful woven design are especially wonderful and I love the girls in costume. I’m going to have to share this column.
How fun! Loved all of the May pole dancers. Especially interesting was the pole covered in red/white and the ribbons in red/white/blue. I thought they had their holidays mixed up. 🙂 Several years ago, I dressed up my Tonner 10er dolls and did a May Pole scene. Had a lot of crashes trying to get everyone standing at once. Guess I should see if I can locate that photo as I’m sure I’ll never do it again.
Happy May Day!
Museum wax?
I used to love May Day at school. It was the big fundraiser near the end of the school year. The weather was lovely, but cool in the evening when we danced so we usually wore either sweaters or our spring coats. But we didn’t want to cover up our pretty dresses that we got to wear for the event when we danced, so our poor teachers became coat racks until our dance was over.
I was very sad when May Day was done away with because, like Jeanne’s favorite description, it was a time for celebrating after being inside all winter. Remember I lived in PA at that time. We had the May Queen and her attendants and all girls wanted to be chosen for the May Court, but sadly that honor went to only a few – and the teachers chose. Elementary was kindergarten through sixth grade at that time, and the May Queen and her attendants were sixth graders, with the crown bearer and “crowner” being little boys chosen from first grade. But even if we weren’t picked for the May Court, we sixth grade girls got to do the Maypole dance. Little girls grew up anticipating their chance to dance around the Maypole. I have a picture of the Maypole dance when my younger sister was in it, but it’s black and white and not a really good picture or I’d share it. All grades did dances. My mother got really tired of hearing “The Mexican Hat Dance”, since it was done every year by one of the grades. It’s a tradition that we’ve sadly lost. The joy and beauty of the May Day dances, the Maypole dance and May Court were replaced by callisthenic drills, so while the fundraiser went on, the thing we kids liked the most was discontinued. Then the concept of a May Day celebration at all was done away with. It was political but I’m not going into that.
I smile at Dorothy in PA so looking forward to months of no snow. When I lived in PA as a kid we couldn’t get enough snow. My grandparents always said the beautiful snows of their youth seemed to be gone. Well they say the weather comes in cycles and I lived in PA during the not much snow (or rain I might add) cycle. These past few years my friends still living there have all said they wouldn’t mind a little less snow. Feel free to send it here. My grandkids were ecstatic over the two inches they got last year here in Texas. Imagine their joy at seeing a couple feet of it. Okay, I’m retired and don’t have to drive in it.
Kirsten’s May Day dress is beautiful. The pictures were all lovely. Really brought back fond memories of what it was like to be a child when I was in elementary during the 1950s. So much baggage placed on kids today. It was a good time to be a kid back then.
I have to comment twice today because I just looked at your Kirsten and the Maypole scene post. It reminded me of when David and I were in a Scottish association in Houston. Each year we had a Burn’s Supper and for a few years David was an officer. We had to stay after everyone left to make sure everything was cleared out of the ballroom. Unfortunately we were still there when the work crew came in to disassemble our exquisite ambiance. Seeing what was really under the beautiful table settings and floral displays took a lot of the magic out of the evening. You were quite courageous in allowing us to see the “big picture”. The result was lovely no matter what it took.
You brought back a memory today. My little friend and neighbor went to a private school and they had a May Day celebration
All the little girls were dressed like flowers in dresses made out of crepe paper. It was so cute and colorful and I felt so lucky to be able to go along and see it.
Thanks for the pictures. I really loved the ones that showed the woven colorful designs
Hi everyone,
I’m not ignoring you all but I’ve been at the hospital since 6:30 this morning…snd still here…I’ll spare you the details but Alba had to be taken to the emergency room and we would covet your prayers. She is so tiny and it’s hard to see her so sick..
She is supposed to defend her Thesis paper next Wednesday and is worried about it…
I might not be here tomorrow…and I haven’t had a chance to read your comments but it looks like you’ve all had lots to say…
Thanks so much,
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh, thoughts for Alba and hopefully finding out the cause of her sickness quickly.
So happy to be able to view your site again. Was just like last time when I could only download and not view comments. Somehow all fixed.
I’m sure she can get an extension on her thesis. Tell her to not to worry and ask the doctor for a note.
Best wishes to you, Alba and family.
Oh Jeanne, what a shock to read your comment! You can be sure of prayers for Alba, poor girl! I hope they find the cause of her illness and is soon on the road to recovery.
I too had trouble with them blog this afternoon, but it is all fixed now.
I will keep Alba in my prayers and Edgar and Sara too, who both must be worried and scared.
Dear Jeanne, oh my goodness, thank you!!! I didn’t get to check in this afternoon and it is now almost 11 pm and I am just reading your blog.
It’s May, yea!!!!
I remember dancing around the Maypole in kindergarten. Thanks for providing a history on the event.
Kristen looks adorable.
I saw that Kish made three dolls called “Queen of the May.” I don’t have any of them. I just saw them online.
Please tell Alba we will be praying for her. I am thinking it might be stress in preparation for the dissertation defense. I remember what it was like (a gazillion years ago). You feel like you have come so far and it could all slide away. Generally if you have reached the defense stage, you have gotten the support and guidance of your doctoral committee. I think it is rare that you don’t make it through. You can expect re-writes of the dissertation though but that’s usually a formality. Tell Alba that the ancestors are rooting for her.
Give my best to Alba and her family. And to you and her support people. I am so glad she has you. Keep us up on this when you can.