My long ago classmate and forever friend, + Lorraine Levandosky Trethewey reminded me today that we had May baskets, which further reminded me that we even had a May Pole at the Memorial School on Hollis Street, in Framingham once or at least we thought we had one and danced around an imaginary pole...with streamers....I seem to remember that, +Richard Rotelli,+Fred Ablondi, +Rita Hodi, do you remember?
How to Make a May Day Pole
A romp around a May pole can liven any spring or summer event, such as a wedding, block party or May Day picnic. The May pole is a tradition that stretches back to the Germanic Pagans, who danced around the pole at spring and summer festivals. Dancing the pole is said to bring luck in love, plenty of children
, prosperity and creativity. This tradition is a sure-fire, budget-friendly way to amuse guests and make your celebration memorable. Does this Spark an idea?
, prosperity and creativity. This tradition is a sure-fire, budget-friendly way to amuse guests and make your celebration memorable. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
- 1Select a pole for your May Day event to accommodate the number of people you expect will dance around it. A 10-foot-tall pole will suffice for eight to 10 people, while a 15-foot-tall pole is better for up to 20 people. If you are going to have more than 20 people dancing, consider getting more than one pole. Choose a pole made of wood, metal or PVC pipe, but it must be solid enough not to bend when dancers are pulling it in all different directions.
- 2Decorate your pole as desired. Paint it or draw symbols upon. Alternately, wrap it with fabric or leafy vines. Do whatever you feel will capture the spirit of the event. Leave it rustic, if you prefer.
- 3Glue flowers and leaves to a wreath form to "crown" the May pole. Attach four ribbons to the wreath. Put the wreath over the top of the pole, and staple or hot glue the ribbons to the pole. Imagine the wreath is a wheel, and the pole is the hub; the ribbons act like spokes. They will suspend the wreath around the top of the pole when the pole is in a standing position.
- 4Collect ribbons in assorted colors, approximately 15 to 20 feet long each. You need one ribbon per dancer. Staple or tie one end of each ribbon to the top of the pole, just under the decoration.
- 5Locate a clearing for your pole so your dancers will have no trouble spreading out around it. Even a small pole can require a clearing of a 10-foot radius around it, but the more dancers there will be, the larger a clearing you will require.
- 6Dig a hole in the ground, approximately 1 or 2 feet deep. Stand the pole in the hole and fill in the dirt around it, tamping it down hard to compact it as you go along.
- 7Nudge the pole in different directions to see if it threatens to topple or bend. If so, you might need to dig it up and bury it deeper, or tamp the dirt around it more firmly.
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Read more: How to Make a May Day Pole | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_10068112_make-may-day-pole.html#ixzz2RrixM1i6
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