Worth Sharing: The Merry Month of May

 

Here it is May 1 and I gave in this morning to curiosity and began to research the practice of May poles and May baskets.  I was prompted to study it further after starting The Honor Girl by Grace Livingston Hill.  Mrs. Hill in the opening pages of Chapter 1 of the book.

Most of the programme was over.  The tall, white robed queen with flowing hair, and wreaths of smilax  and asparagus fern, like emerald frost-work over her white garments, had marched in with her fairy attendants dressed in all manner of fantastic costumes.  They had place her upon the throne, crowned her, danced about her and the Maypole; danced separately and together; danced with pink, blue and white ribbons around and around the pole until it stood sheathed in its woven rainbow.

I confess, we've never had such tradition here of a Maypole dance nor of May baskets and so I was curious as I see both referenced often  in older books.   

So how did these traditions become a custom?

There are a lot of theories and little evidence to support most about Maypoles, but it it seems to have been practiced most often in Germanic Europe and was taken to England during one of the invasions of that country.   The original purpose seems merely to have been as simple as the erection of a tree in a central location as a symbol of warmth, fertile fields and comfort after long bitter winters.  There is evidence that a tree was the original Maypole which later was replaced by a long tall pole which was often placed in the center of the village greens in England.   In Germany, Malta and other countries it was a tradition to try and still a village's Maypole and if one succeeded then the village that managed to make thievery was treated to drink and food by the community that lost their tree.

Some believe it is strictly a fertility symbol of ancient Rome that was borrowed by other cultures and some believe it is an old Pagan ritual of Spring but there doesn't appear to be enough evidence to fully claim either theory as fact.

Maypoles are still very popular all across Western Europe and different traditions are involved in each country.  In Rhineland and Cologne for instance, a Maypole is purchased by single young men and erected in front of the house of their sweetheart, complete with a red wood heart and decorated with crepe paper.   In other countries it is a time of communal gathering and celebrations.    Not all European countries celebrate a Maypole.  Some have a celebration in Midsummer and others in late summer nearer time of harvest, but all involve a pole erected in a central location in a village around which celebrations take place.

Maypoles were largely discouraged by the Puritans and though the tradition did cross the big pond and come to America it was largely frowned upon and squelched by the the religious leaders.  Part of this or course was due to the licentious nature of some of those practices in which  too much drink and too free behavior by a few no doubt led to the overall censure for all such celebrations.

May baskets came into favor and also were given on May 1.  The tradition was that as April showers came to an end, flowers were gathered along with small candies in little baskets made of various materials.    This became a tradition in the 19th and early 20th century and the day was noted by many newspapers as a tradition in many communities.

Louisa May Alcott notated the tradition in her book Jack and Jill:

"Such a twanging of bells and rapping of knockers; such a scampering of feet in the dark; such droll collisions as boys came racing round corners, or girls ran into one another's arms as they crept up and down steps on the sly; such laughing, whistling, flying about of flowers and friendly feeling—it was almost a pity that May-day did not come oftener."

Traditionally, one went out at night or  rose early to place May baskets on doorknobs of those loved or respected and if one had a crush upon someone and was caught it was permissible to chase down the giver and bestow a kiss upon him or her. 

It is believed that May baskets were a further part of the Maypole tradition, since traditionally  the Maypole was decorated with flowers, as well, but like Maypole dances, May baskets fell out of favor.  Some believe this was largely due to the loss of innocence of youth which declined rapidly after the second World War.  Perhaps so.  While there has been some talk of re-establishing such pretty and seemingly innocent traditions there are those who sincerely hope neither comes to favor once again.  The great fear of those who are against it is that some company will latch onto it and commercialize it as other holidays have been and perhaps that is so...but wouldn't it be lovely to re-establish it as a family tradition?

Many May baskets are just paper cones, formed from pretty papers and filled with a small bouquet of flowers and I can think of nothing lovelier than finding a basket attached to my doorknob on the first morning of May!