Sunday 6 March 2011

May comes early to the Dales.


Sorting through the farmer's family photographs yesterday for one of Dorothy as a young woman, I came across this one of the Maypole- taken around 1950 at the Vicarage Spring Garden Fete.
I couldn't resist posting it today although we are a long way from May. I hope you like it - there is such an air of innocence about it - and how I love those bonnets that some of the girls are wearing! I always wanted a straw bonnet with little flowers behind the brim; my mother never allowed me to have one as she said I was not a straw bonnet kind of girl!

And how lovely to see some boys in there. I think Dorothy must have been a very persuasive teacher to cajole boys into taking part. I'm not sure it could be done today. Also I like the activity in the background where the tables are set for tea and some people have already arrived. One of the farmer's sisters is on the far right of the photograph.

Those were the days eh?

14 comments:

steven said...

weaver what a find! what a time - an england almost entirely gone now. my favourite writing around the maypole has to be in hardy's return of the native. steven

Heather said...

What a delightful photograph Pat - happy days and lovely memories. Even a loving mother can be unconsciously cutting! It wont be the same if you buy a straw hat with flowers now, will it? And you are certainly not ready for a bonnet!!

izzy said...

I remember the May pole we put together
for a play our whole Middle School did when I was in fifth grade! ( The Magic Flute)a joyous celebration and very colorful- Thanks.

Lindsay said...

We did maypole dancing at my school! I was the elephant with enormous feet!

Pondside said...

Yes, certainly a more innocent time. We had a May day celebration at church and I always longed to be the one carrying the flowers but it never happened...

Rarelesserspotted said...

Delightful photograph
x

angryparsnip said...

What a wonderful photo.
And yes, a very different time and place.
A Vicarage Spring Garden fete sounds quite nice to me.

cheers, parsnip

Mary said...

Besides your interesting stories Pat, I love reading the comments you receive - many of them giving even more insight into English country life.

The Maypole - yes I was a dancer too when in primary school. Love it and danced at many a church fete. Our pole was in the middle of the school playground and that's where we rehearsed. Did a display for Parents' Day each Spring. I can actually hum the tunes we danced to - nowadays I'd be dizzy skipping all those non-stop circles weaving the ribbons! Lovely photo.

Cloudia said...

so much change during our short lifetimes!



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Acornmoon said...

My sister was born in May, she was also Queen of the May and took part in a Mayday festival complete with Maypole. She was ten years older than me and I think the tradition must have died out in the sixties? I don't have memories of Maypoles although we did have Whit walks.

maryelizabethroche said...

What a great photograph you found!
I love when a photo shows us a different time and place.

ChrisJ said...

I remember wearing one of those straw bonnets -- even have a couple of photos. But I would rather have been without it. I was a bit of a tom-boy, which, in today's world, I have no idea what that means!

The Weaver of Grass said...

I think there are still maypoles up here in some schools - but it is really only to keep the tradition alive. Thank you for your comments.

Caroline Gill said...

Yes, this brings back many delightful memories of dancing round the maypole at school in the 1960s, of washing our faces in the dew on 1 May and reciting 'Of all the trees, the cherry now ...'. I shall never forget those happy days in Kent.