Three Line Tales — Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!

Fandango

I remember back in elementary school on the first day of May, or “May Day,” when our class would gather around a tall pole with ribbons attached at the top to celebrate the arrival of spring.

Each of us would grab a ribbon in our right hand, and when the music started, we’d dance around the Maypole until all of the ribbons were wrapped around it, and then we’d reverse directions and unwind the ribbons from around the Maypole until they were fully stretched.

I thought the whole thing was kind of stupid and pointless.

Written for Sonya’s Three Line Tales prompt. Photo credit: Social History Archive.

12 thoughts on “Three Line Tales — Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!”

  1. rugby843 April 27, 2023 / 6:08 pm

    We did that dance in our school

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  2. Marleen April 27, 2023 / 7:07 pm

    We didn’t do that, when I was in school. One year, though, when my kids were little I bought small baskets with handles that would go around doorknobs. We put flowers in them and took them to each neighbor’s house on May Day.

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    • Fandango April 27, 2023 / 10:25 pm

      That was nice.

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      • Marleen April 28, 2023 / 9:45 pm

        I did a search of the very different backgrounds as well as very different traditions, yesterday. We didn’t start on the eve before or wait until dusk, as it seems some do. We didn’t do any ringing and running or knocking, or hiding either, or kissing or shaming. We also didn’t do any striking for better conditions; nor lighting of a bonfire in the name of a witch or a saint (using apparently the same common noun or capitalized name for either). I’m unlikely to do it again of my own volition (as opposed to, for instance, lending a hand at a daycare). It was fun enough, coming out of vague memories from my Presbyterian preschool and public elementary.

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  3. Paula Light April 27, 2023 / 8:49 pm

    I think a girl is supposed to “accidentally” tangle a boy in her ribbon and then he has to marry her. Or maybe I got that wrong… it’s been a while since I read a romance!

    Liked by 1 person

  6. leigha66 May 8, 2023 / 7:57 pm

    I think early on in school we might have done the may pole but for many years we did may baskets with candy and popcorn delivered to friends houses.

    Liked by 1 person

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