Beltane Celebration

May Pole Dancing

Description of May Pole Dancing
May Pole dancing featured the young girls perform circle dances around a tall pole, painted in stripes, which was decorated with garlands of flowers and other emblems. The youngest girls danced in the inner circle whilst the older girls danced in the outer circle. The girls each held a ribbon which was attached to the May Pole. May Pole Dancing involved circular steps during which the ribbons were intertwined and plaited. The May pole dancers would then unravel the ribbon by retracing their steps.

May Pole Dancing - The May Pole
The cutting of a great tree and bringing it to a village to use as a May Pole was a great event in Medieval village life. Great care was taken in choosing the tree, and neighbouring villages often competed with each other to have the tallest May Pole. The bark of the tree was removed, or smoothed, and decorated with garlands of flowers and brightly colored ribbons to prepare the May Pole. The May Pole was then erected in the centre of the Village Green. This ritual was repeated in villages every year, however some of the May Poles which were erected in towns were permanent and only fresh flowers and ribbons were added for the May festivities.

The Origin and History of May Pole dancing
The origin of May Pole dancing dates back to the Pagan times, and the Maypole was basically a phallic symbol. Trees have always been the symbol of the great vitality and fertility of nature. May Pole dancing was therefore strongly associated with fertility. Traditionally May Pole Dancing was performed by the young girls from the Medieval villages as part of the May time celebrations. The History of the Maypole and May Pole dancing was connected with both the Druids, Wiccans and the Romans. May 1 was an important date for the Druids as this was when the festival of Beltane held. Beltane marked the beginning of the pastoral summer season and was celebrated by lighting fires. Wiccans celebrated by dancing round a Maypole and choosing a May Queen. Then the Romans came to occupy the British Isles. The beginning of May was also an important feast time for the Romans which was devoted primarily to the worship of Flora, the goddess of flowers when the Festival of Floralia was held. Over time the traditions and rituals of the Floralia were added to those of the Beltane culminating in May Pole dancing, which is still carried out to this day.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Moonheart13 on April 28, 2011 at 3:47pm

Beltane Blessings To All Within The Realm. Let us join together in song and dance to celebrate this lovely time of spring. The Lord and the Lady walk hand in hand through the forest grove at this time and the May Queen presides over the May Pole dancing. We come together to wish for a fruitful growing season ahead and safe delivery of livestock to the land. Blessed Be To All.

Permalink Reply by Moonheart13 on April 29, 2011 at 11:38am

Good day, M' Lady Esobella. Sit a spell with me and help me weave the flowers for the hair of the Ladies dancing the May Pole this weekend. You always do such a beautiful job.

Good day. Ocean. 'Tis nice of thee to stop by to check on how things are coming along for the celebration. We still have much to do, I am sure that the menfolk could use your help. They have gone off to the grove to find a suitable tree for the May Pole.

Permalink Reply by Moonheart13 on April 29, 2011 at 1:06pm

We could most assuredly use more flowers. There never seems to be enough of this splash of color on Beltane. Aye, you are right on both accounts, Sir Kelvin. 'This my day of birth and I do so love jonquils. I will gladly except your gracious gift.

Permalink Reply by Greenwood the Bard on April 29, 2011 at 12:40pm

Come join me in a song for the season!

Permalink Reply by Moonheart13 on April 29, 2011 at 1:08pm

This is the perfect tune to start off our Beltane Celebration, Bard Greenwood. You honor us with your talent on this sunny morn.

Permalink Reply by Greenwood the Bard on April 29, 2011 at 1:02pm

Gather you close for words of Lord Tennyson, purveyor of pretty poems!

You must wake and call me early, call me early, mother dear; tomorrow'ill be the happiest time of all the glad New-year; of all the glad New-year, mother, the maddest merriest day; For I'm to be Queen o'the May, mother, I'm to be Queen o'the May.

As I came up the valley whom think ye should I see, But Robin leaning on the bridge beneath the hazel-tree? He thought of that sharp look, mother, I gave him yesterday - but I'm to be Queen o'the May, mother, I'm to be Queen o'the May.

He thought I was a ghost, mother, for I was all in white, and I ran by him without speaking, like a flash of light. They call me cruel-hearted, but I care not what they say, for I'm to be Queen o'the May, mother, I'm to be Queen o'the May.

They say he's dying all for love, but that can never be; they say his heart is breaking, mother - what is that to me? There's many a bolder lad'ill woo me any summer day, and I'm to be Queen o'the May, mother, I'm to be Queen o'the May.

So you must wake and call me early, call me early, mother dear, tomorrow'ill be the happiest time of all the glad New-year; tomorrow'ill be of all the year the maddest merriest day, for I'm to be Queen of the May, mother, I'm to be Queen o'the May.

Permalink Reply by wildfiremooncharmed on April 29, 2011 at 1:36pm

im going to a beltana festival and i get to dance around a may pole

Permalink Reply by Moonheart13 on April 29, 2011 at 5:18pm

Thou art lucky, indeed, M' Lady. Perhaps you can join Lady Esobella and I as we weave flowers here in the shade of this mother oak tree.

Permalink Reply by Peter McDowell on April 29, 2011 at 6:50pm

Comment by Peter McDowell 3 hours ago Delete Comment

THE BLESSINGS OF FIRE
I'll tell you of a special festival
The gloriuos dues of May-day
Ale, roots, sweet whey
And fresh curds to the fire

Early Irish Calendar Poem

Choose the willows of the streams
Choose the hazel of the rocks
Choose the alder of the marshes
Choose the birch of the waterfalls
Choose the ash of the shade
Choose the yew of resilence
Choose the elm of the brave
Choose the oak of the sun

An old Scottish rhyme that preserves the lore of the wood used in kindling the Bealltainn (byahl-tin Scots Gaelic) fire.

From "Kindling the Celtic Spirit", Mara Freeman

All Blessing to everyone,
I am at your service
Sir Peter

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Permalink Reply by InTheAftermath on April 30, 2011 at 12:32pm