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Originally Posted by MaggieL
When I was in kindergarden on May Day we did a maypole dance with a real maypole (not the playground toy by the same name, which is no doubt no longer to be found.) singing "Oats, Peas, Beans and Barley Grow". I seem to recall that we were dressed in pilgrim garb for the occasion...and it was only the Pilgrims who outlawed the Maypole. Trying to put the lid on handfastings and "greenwood marriages" apparently.
The tradition survives in the time-honored rhyme I didn't learn until college:
Hoorray hooray
For the tenth of May
Outdoor fucking
Begins today
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I grew up in the country. My elementary was an old fashioned three classroom home town school. We did the may pole dance. We weaved over and under these big streamers until the pole was covered.The sun was warm.
I was reluctant to mention it because it seems like a dream but I find it very nostalgic.
I like to read 'historical' novels. One of the cultural events is the celebration of mayday. With spring comming on and world events at odds with beauty it just makes me yearn for a time when people could just chill.
I thought it was the Catholics who outlawed many of these celebrations, or rather incorporated them?
I went to a handfasting marraige celebration in an old historical theater here in town. It was beautiful.
Thanks for sharing your story maggie. I don't feel so odd now :P