Whatever happened to May Day as a holiday (May pole, May baskets, etc.)?

[missypie]

I know that the Communist countries have May 1st celebrations. But whatever happened to the traditional May Day, where one was supposed to leave people May Baskets filled with flowers? I was in elementary school in Olney, Illinois, and every May 1st there was a parade and all the school children dressd up and marched down Main Street, then we got the rest of the day off.

When I was a tiny girl (this might have been 1961 or 1962), I was staying with my grandma, and we walked over to the local elem. school to watch the kids dance around the May Pole.

Does any part of the country still celebrate it? You'd think that at least the florists would have kept pushing it as a holiday.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

I know those who still celebrate it - but they are Pagan/Wiccan. Probably went away because Christians perceived it as heathen. Not sure.

I like the idea of the May pole and celebrating spring - seems like it could be fun even without religious overtones!!!!

 

[missypie]

I know those who still celebrate it - but they are Pagan/Wiccan. Probably went away because Christians perceived it as heathen. Not sure.

I like the idea of the May pole and celebrating spring - seems like it could be fun even without religious overtones!!!!

You can be sure that the good folks in Olney Illinois did not think it was a Wiccan holiday...but I googled it, and that's what it says, too.

 

[NotUrsula]

Blame them heathen communists!

Seriously, it pretty much went away during the Cold War once television gained a broad audience. The newscasts started showing the USSR's May Day Parades, and various worker's party celebrations elsewhere around the world, and the idea of "celebrating" May Day began to take on a flavor of showing support for the Communist Party, which of course was unthinkable.

Thus, the effective end of children's May Day celebrations. The only place near me that still does it is a very prestigious private school, which has done their annual May Day celebration for over a century and would not dream of abandoning the tradition. (Besides, their families are all VERY establishment conservative types, and no one would ever suspect them of any socialist tendencies.)

 

[jonestavern]

Blame them heathen communists!

Seriously, it pretty much went away during the Cold War once television gained a broad audience. The newscasts started showing the USSR's May Day Parades, and various worker's party celebrations elsewhere around the world, and the idea of "celebrating" May Day began to take on a flavor of showing support for the Communist Party, which of course was unthinkable.

Thus, the effective end of children's May Day celebrations. The only place near me that still does it is a very prestigious private school, which has done their annual May Day celebration for over a century and would not dream of abandoning the tradition. (Besides, their families are all VERY establishment conservative types, and no one would ever suspect them of any socialist tendencies.)

Yep! Nailed it!
I do miss the May Pole dancing! we did it at a public, elementary school in the days before the earth's crust cooled.
I think I can vouchsafe most folks who participated are neither communists or Wiccans!
It does have it's origins in pagan ritual, but, hey, so do most other celebrations! It was lovely & I wish it would come back!

Jean

 

[mickeyboat]

Our K class does a Maypole dance every year. They are adorable!

When we were kids we would put little cups of candy on our friendss doorsteps, ring the bell, and run away. Then the recipient would have to figure out who did it, and give them a kiss.

Denae

 

[missypie]

Wouldn't it have been nice to have discovered a May Basket at your door this morning?

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

Now that we're in the postmodern world (or are we postpostmodern by now -I lose track ), the vision of virginal young girls traipsing around a large -errrmm, pole is not something a lot of communities want to celebrate.

 

[ducklite]

Dilana stole the May Pole streamers for her hair. I'm just sayin'...

Anne

 

[Bob Slydell]

the vision of virginal young girls traipsing around a large -errrmm, pole is not something a lot of communities want to celebrate.

Works for me

 

[MAKmom]

I went to Catholic School & we had May day to celebrate the Virgin Mary is that what you are talking about? We did the parade & pole.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

Works for me

Not making a judgment, I'm just saying....

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

Blame them heathen communists!

Seriously, it pretty much went away during the Cold War once television gained a broad audience. The newscasts started showing the USSR's May Day Parades, and various worker's party celebrations elsewhere around the world, and the idea of "celebrating" May Day began to take on a flavor of showing support for the Communist Party, which of course was unthinkable.

Thus, the effective end of children's May Day celebrations. The only place near me that still does it is a very prestigious private school, which has done their annual May Day celebration for over a century and would not dream of abandoning the tradition. (Besides, their families are all VERY establishment conservative types, and no one would ever suspect them of any socialist tendencies.)

cool! Learn something new everyday - I knew about the Pagan/Wiccan connection from my friends - but not the communist connection!

Missypie - I am sure they didn't see the connection in Olney Illinois specifically - I thought you meant why did it go away in general - not why did it end in Olney.....and if you took offense, I am sorry - that was my honest guess....

 

[missypie]

cool! Learn something new everyday - I knew about the Pagan/Wiccan connection from my friends - but not the communist connection!

Missypie - I am sure they didn't see the connection in Olney Illinois specifically - I thought you meant why did it go away in general - not why did it end in Olney.....and if you took offense, I am sorry - that was my honest guess....

No offense taken...just trying to imagine all the Church Ladies in Olney finding out they were celebrating with the Wiccans.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

OK!

probably could have worded the last part better - I just meant it is too bad we still weren't doing the whole Maypole thing just for the fun of it!!!!