Today is May Day!
Traditionally, May Day is a European Festival commemorating the beginning of summer. May 1 is halfway between the Northern Hemisphere’s spring equinox and the June solstice. It sounds like a ‘space and time thing to me..lol.
I remember learning about May Day in layman’s terms in grade school, but what I recall the most is dancing around the Maypole for a special parents’ program. I think the whole grade was involved, and each class got to perform one song at the Maypole.
If you grew up in the 70s, do you recall learning square dancing in gym and music class? It was similar to those lessons. Except this music was all instrumental and folksy. Much different from what we traditionally heard in music class. We practiced for weeks.
I remember the Maypole was white and light blue, as well as the long ribbons that hung from it. We made a circle around the pole, alternating boys and girls. There were specific skips and jumps we were taught to do as we went around the Maypole with our class’s chosen song while raising and lowering the ribbon we were holding.
It was, most likely, a hot mess, but I recall performing in front of parents on a beautiful spring day outside in the back of the Hilltop Elementary school.
Every May 1, I can still catch a small glimpse in my mind of that Maypole at my quaint little neighborhood school. After all these years, that 5-minute dance still pops into my head. It made an impression. What a happy memory of all the parents gathering around and clapping to the music while we celebrated our version of Mayday!
