There has been dancing around our village maypole (one of the few left in England) for centuries... this year the dancing didn't take place on May Day as the area was waterlogged, so it was scheduled for tonight and luckily took place just before the clouds burst again! There are usually thousands of people there with stalls and attractions, this year it was mainly local folk but we still cheered and there was a lovely atmosphere.
My friend's daughter was crowned Queen of the May and then folk in traditional dress danced around the maypole. This is a shot of my favourite bit - where the older children plait the ribbons. The little ones (from school) did us proud with their skipping dances earlier then went wearily home... as did I after this, as Cathy has friends for a sleepover tonight urrrgh.
Thank you so much for your lovely comments on my shot of the Birthday Girl yesterday - she read and appreciated them all (as did I)! Have a wonderful weekend :)
Lovely processing for this delightful dance image. May Pole dancing takes me back to my youth. The practice carried across to Australia and was a popular activity for school fetes.
I have a very long and very sad tale about a maypole (or lack of...) and my childhood :o( Maybe I'll leave it for another day. This is such a nostalgic shot for me xx
Great shot Phil. I would have loved to see that. Strangely we don't have the tradition of dancing around the May pole in Norway, but they do in Sweden. Did you have Morris dancers as well?
This is so cool! When I was in grade school, one 3rd grade teacher's class always got to do the Maypole in the grassy courtyard area of our school. I wanted to do it so badly, but I did not get her for 3rd grade. It is such a quaint and happy tradition!
They still do this!~ I am impressed...I remember the May pole when I was in elementary school!! Adoring the long dresses on the girls...very beautiful capture!
Wonderful! I'm glad that if you missed the actual May Day, the celebration was still held! I remember when neighborhood children used to ring my doorbell and leave a posy of flowers and run away!
I remember dancing around a Maypole in my Nursery School! My goodness that's back in the Dark Ages!! What a great shot- makes me want to see it in person someday!
