Saturday, May 03, 2008

May Faire 2008

Here is Lucia dancing in the May Pole dance for the first time:


And here we are with our flower finery:


I was happy to hear the Padstow song featured in the opening ceremony, with some alternative lyrics about the Queen of May. After all the grades performed their dances, the stations for the bake sale, salmon grilled lunch, "fishing pond" and cake-walk were set up. I had signed up to play for a half-hour during the cake-walk, but was relieved after 20 minutes by one of the graders with her recorder. Afterward, the experienced musicians played as a guitar/saxophone trio.

We were all rather soggy today. Earlier, I asked, "What is the plan if we get rained upon during May Faire?" The answer was, "It's never rained on May Faire!"

13 comments:

Yorkshire Pudding said...

How lovely that in the brash financio-techno world that is modern America with its thrusting skyscrapers and shiny cars, Jay Leno, Britney Spears and Oreos - there is still a place for celebrating May around an old maypole, singing songs of long ago and putting the flowers of springtime in your hair. Hurrah for alternative culture in Seattle!

Lone Star Ma said...

What he said. How lovely.

Noodle said...

You both look beautiful in your May finery. What a fun tradition! We used to have May Day celebrations when I was little, but sadly I don't know of any now. Perhaps I'll attempt to organize one.

tanita✿davis said...

Still surprised that there seem to be no maypoles here - but yours looks lovely.

Anamaria (bookstogether) said...

I love May Day. What a wonderful celebration of it you made! I bet being rained on is a good sign of something, too.

Saints and Spinners said...

YP & LSM: It really does feel like a priviledge to be able to partake of these festivities. I wish them for everyone who wants them.

Noodle: That's a good idea! In theory, you could use a tetherball. The young children held ribbons and did dances in and out of the circle, whereas the older children actually did the weaving.

TadMack: Now I want to do some checking to see if parts of Scotland celebrate May Day.

Anamaria: I certainly hope so! Today is lovely and sunny. I had a birthday party gig indoors. Weather doesn't care what our plans are.

limpy99 said...

I'm a little concerend about theconnection between the salmon dinner and the fishing pond.

Saints and Spinners said...

Limpy: Of course, here in Waldorf land, we make our children work for their dinners! They have to grow their own wheat, milk their own cows, and fish for their dinners (sans licenses, at that).

My daughter got a little bracelet from the fishing pond.

Lady K said...

Oh, Lord have MERCY she is growing SO fast! You must be so proud. I thought of you on "May Day." I really wish I hadn't gotten rid of my recorder. What a cool instrument!

Saints and Spinners said...

Lady K: I am proud! I am guessing before long Lucia will take up the recorder, as that's the first instrument taught in school. I remember taking recorder in 3rd grade and going, "Toot, toot, toot" (each note exhaled) to the tune of "Ode to Joy."

Vivian Mahoney said...

So lovely! Lucia must have had so much fun! I've always thought the May Faire sounded quite delightful and romantic. Sad to say, I've never experienced one first hand. Sigh. What Yorkshire Pudding said.

MotherReader said...

How very springy! I'm envious. Maybe I'll stick some azalea branches in my hair today and dance around the rusted basketball hoop pole by my driveway. We all do the best we can with what we got. ;^)

Saints and Spinners said...

HWM: Just so you know, one doesn't have to have a May Pole in order to have a May Faire (though it is nice). The neighborhood of which we are adjunct members is having theirs in a couple of weeks, and there's going to be a procession of bicycles and balloons.

MR: I want to see photos, please.