May Day.

[Caran]

Do you remember the old traditions of May Day? In the late 40's/early fifties we used to decorate a broom handle with crepe paper twirled all the way down it. Had streamers attached to the top of it. We all dressed up in our finery and one girl was selected as May Queen. It was my turn. Mum had made me a special pink dress. I was all dressed up in it including a gold paper crown. I fell down the steps leading up to our house and landed in a puddle. I ran in crying. Mum said I'll fix it. I didn't have another suitable dress so Mum washed the dirty bits and ironed it dry. We set off round the neighbourhood, knocking on doors and singing, The words were something like:-
We come to greet you on the first of May
We hope you will not turn us away
As we dance and sing our merry song
On the first of May.
We were actually given money (probably to get rid of us)
It was amazing how much money we got. More amazing no parents with us, and we nnever saw a paedo or a flasher. We were probably aged 8-10.
Did anyone else do anything like this? This was in the Manchester area.

[marval]

I remember dancing around the maypole, it was great fun. It is lovely to have memories like hat.

[tenrec]

Yep I did the dancing round the maypole and we crowned a May Queen - usually one of the older girls.

[emmie]

certainly dressing up, and dancing around the maypole, i forget much of that time, but i do remember that.

[MarkRae]

By the end of the evening the Queen of the May was usually the Queen of the Definitely Will...

[tenrec]

No Mark, our queeen would only be 11 or 12 yrs old.

[emmie]

mark we were not old enough to do that, thank you.

[cathfromsaron]

it is my mum's birthday today, and she always thought all the fuss was for her!

cath x

[Caran]

Never mind not being old enough, didn't even know what is was!

[emmie]

very true.

[chi-chi66]

I was a May Queen at school, must have been about 6, still in the infants
school. Have a photo, there was a queen for each year,and her attendants,
{boys and girls}, and we danced around the maypole.
Can't remember where the dress came from, or what colour the dress was,
photo black and white.
Looked a right plonker with the crown all lopsided! Happy schooldays haha.

[chi-chi66]

CATH....Happy Birthday to you're mum, hope she had a lovely day, and
why should'nt it have been for her!! xx

[Caran]

Happy Birthay to Cath's mum.

[Caran]

sorry Birthday!

[gness]

I was the only Roman Catholic in my Brownie pack. When I was chosen to be May Queen our priest forbade it because it was a Pagan ritual. Lovely Brown Owl, who disliked the priest, changed the ceremony to the June and I was crowned June Rose.

[tenrec]

We had May Queen and Rose Queen in June. I was never the chosen one, but I'm not bitter (much!)

[pastafreak]

When I first came to the UK,my daughter's school-a very small village one-still observed Mayday every year. I still have photos of the children processing from the school.

[pastafreak]

Edit...actually-it's pictures of the Rose Queen festival I have. I'd forgotten all about that. lol

[rowanwitch]

Hooray hooray the first of may
Outdoor sex begins today

[McMouse]

When I was a lad virgins danced around a May Pole. Fat chance today of finding a May Pole.

[maggiebee]

Not a tradition followed in Scotland to the best of knowledge.