in the 1940' us elem. kids learned and performed the May pole dance

[ensho]

on May 1. some mothers came to watch (fathers at work). the May Pole was nicely decorated and the ribbon streamers that we danced and twined around the May Pole were beautiful colors. we also wore costumes of spring colors. and we sang songs in harmony with a piano player.

I remember nothing political ever being said. more of a Pagan tradition handed down.

this was in Maryland, near Wash. D.C.

by the time my kids were in school this was no longer done.

anybody else ever do the May Pole dance?

[NightWatcher]

1. I did it in 2nd grade (1983) in South Georgia

[ensho]

2. how nice - did you have fun doing it? we did.

nt

[JDPriestly]

3. I believe it was done in my small Iowa town, but I don't remember

what the situation was. It may have just been my class. I was too young to remember that clearly.

[raccoon]

4. Me! In early 60's in SC.

I had always wanted to be in a Maypole dance, and I finally got my chance.

Nothing political was said. In fact, I must admit that until a few years ago I didn't know May Day had any political significance.

[Red Zelda]

5. I remember the pole

... but only myths about why nothing ever occurred there any more.

[MadHound]

6. Did the Maypole dance in the '60s

But that was in a little German town in the Midwest where old country traditions died very slowly. I think that the Maypole died out for two reasons, first the Cold War made anything associated with May 1, whether it be the Maypole or Mayday as used to be observed by unions here in the US, very suspect because of the USSR connection. Plus the fact that the Maypole is part of an old pagan fertility rite finally got enough fundies up in arms that it was quietly ended.

By the by, don't tell those fundies about Easter and the Easter bunny, that's really get their knickers in a twist:rofl: Christianity, the religion that is, in large part, borrowed from a multitude of other religions.

[Iris]

7. hey! My mom grew up in MD near DC

I doubt they did this in Catholic school, though.

[ensho]

15. Agar Road Elem. School

nt

[On the Road]

8. I Remember the Maypole

but did not participate in it. I suspect its decline has to do with:

1) The de-emphasis of Anglo-Saxon tradition,
2) Evangelical sensistivity toward traditions with a pagan background, and
3) Not wanting children to do anything referred to as a "pole dance."

[skooooo]

9. ..in the 70s too..

[MuseRider]

10. Every year late 50's

I always looked forward to it. It was fun and colorful but I don't think anyone ever explained what it was all about. We just did it and had a grand time doing it.

[Individualist]

11. One of my favorite memories

was one May Day when an older cousin was one of the May Pole dancers. The dancers were dressed in little Dutch girl costumes and danced around the May Pole to "In an English Garden", http://www.contemplator.com/england/garden.html It was a perfect spring day with fun and games instead of classes.

[Greybnk48]

12. upstate PA in the mid 50's

our town had a huge celebration at the local elementary school (we had a maypole on the playground) with a very elaborate maypole dance that the kids rehearsed for a couple of weeks. We crowned a May Day King and Queen from the local high school and there was a Prince and Princess chosen from the kindergarten class (I was the princess my year). I had to see a local seamstress and have a gown custom made for the ceremony. This was in the town of Catasauqua, PA.

[ensho]

14. wow, how interesting - thanks for telling

nt

[Sequoia]

18. What was your gown like?

[Amelie]

13. We had a May Pole on our playground

in the 80s. We didn't have a May Pole dance or anything; it was just another toy on the playground. It was metal, and we would hold onto the handles, run around, and then jump and swing. Judging it to be absurdly dangerous, they took it out the same time they took out the merry-go-round.

My poor daughter doesn't even have swings at her playground. Next, they'll decide that slides are too dangerous.

[nashville_brook]

16. we did it once when i was in school (70s, central florida)

[Horse with no Name]

17. We did it in the 70's in Arizona. n/t