WITH the approach of May, when the land seems suddenly filled with the blossoms of springtime, the towns and villages of Britain are busy completing the preparations for their annual May Day Festivals and countless young girls are eagerly looking forward to the great moment when, as MAY QUEEN, they will ride to their crowning in a chariot decked with spring flowers. Then with the garlanded and gaily painted Maypole set up in it's accustomed position on the green (or even in the street), they will preside over the traditional dances and festivities which celebrate the arrival of
'THE GLADDEST TIME OF THE YEAR'.MAYDAY celebrations and festivities are buried in the vaults of time.
The ancient Celts and Druids celebrated Beltane in honour of the Sun God Bel at the beginning of the Spring and the first seed planting.
The Saxons made the eve before (the last day of April) their festival time.
From the 12th to 15th centuries many towns and cities had Maypoles so tall and heavy they had to be buried deeply in the ground and they remained standing throughout the year and only on MayDay were they decorated with flower crowns, ribbons and streamers.
In most villages at dawn young men and women would go into the forest, the young men to choose a tree, strip it of it's branches (all but the top) and carry it to the village green ready for erection, decoration and the day's celebrations.
Meanwhile the young women would be gathering flowers, greenery, ribbons and streamers to garland the Maypole and anyone or anything else involved on the MayDay where the chosen Queen of the May would preside over the events and feasts.
Maypole dancing then involved young men and women holding ribbons and weaving in and out with no definite pattern and lingering to kiss on the way.
In the 1600's MayDay celebrations and processions were banned by Oliver Cromwell as being pagan and sinful but in some parts of England villages were still celebrating.
It wasn't until 1660 with the restoration of King Charles II that MayDay celebrations and festivities were in full swing after the severity of the Puritan regime.
Queen Victoria's subjects re-invented the MayDay Traditions under the guise of 'Merrie England Festivals'
Maypole Dancing became more intricate and patterns and plaiting of the ribbons whilst dancing was imported from Europe in the 1880's.
A favourite with young girls at that time was to cover a garland in flowers and ribbons to be held by two of the girls, another to carry a doll in a box covered with a cloth. They would go from house to house asking the inhabitants if they would like to see the 'May Baby' - this of course was for a contribution of money.
This garland has evolved in our procession into the Hoop Garland held by two girls over the May Queen and Prince when they leave the Common after the Crowning Ceremony.
The decorated 'cage' on a pole carried at the rear of the procession depicts the cage carrying the 'May Baby' (this custom is believed to have started when Cromwell banned MayDay processions and the collection of money - people paid to see the doll}.
