Save May Day! Create a maypole Forest!

Subject: Folklore: Save May Day! Create a maypole
From: GUEST,Floksnog
Date: 18 May 11 - 09:12 AM

Hello,

I know there are many many maypole related posts on here, but this one has a different purpose...

I have had an idea to help with the campaign to save the May Day / Beltane bank holiday.

I was inspired by some train shaped bunting/petition to come up with my own small act of 'craftivism' – using artistic and crafty means to be an active person politically - in this case help save our May Day holiday.

I realised, prompted by an old early childhood memory, that maypoles have been casting their long shadows over Britain in perhaps more profusion than many people realised – when I asked around most people had encountered a maypole in some form or other. I want to some how show this visually to those who will decide on the future of May Day bank holiday.

At the moment I am thinking of a large board, either with the outline of Britain burned on to it or pasted on in map form. I would then drill holes into the board everywhere there was a maypole and put in a short twig. Hopefully most of Britain would be forested. Al the ones that had been used in the 21st century I would tie a brightly coloured thread around.

This whole thing would then be given to the relevant political person as a physical demonstration of the popularity of the concept of May Day. I would deliver it next May Day (2012).

This is where I need help –

Firstly if other people think this is a good idea we could regionalise it (saving me a lot of work!) and, after deciding on a scale, create a sort of jigsaw map that could be fitted together (I bagsie the Westcountry – Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset!).

Secondly, if you have ever seen a maypole, tell me where and when! The more I can locate the more impressive the map will look…

And thirdly – tell me your thoughts on the whole idea! – Positive, negative – I can take it! (For instance I am not sure if Maypoles are a big thing in Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales – I know Beltane is, but does it involve maypoles? As the plans at the moment are only to scrap Mayday Bank holiday in Wales and England should I leave Scotland and Northern Ireland out?).

I hope we can retain the right to holiday on this most ancient of festivals.

Thomas

Subject: RE: Folklore: Save May Day! Create a maypole
From: GUEST,Floksnog
Date: 18 May 11 - 09:12 AM

- The title should be "Save May Day! Create a maypole Forest!" -

Subject: RE: Folklore: Save May Day! Create a maypole
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 18 May 11 - 09:13 AM

I've got a maypole, or at least a representation of ...

Oh no, that's the wrong way round!

Subject: RE: Save May Day! Create a maypole Forest!
From: Mo the caller
Date: 18 May 11 - 10:14 AM

Do you mean the sort of maypoles that they have in schools with pretty ribbons? Or the older (pagan???) sort?

Subject: RE: Save May Day! Create a maypole Forest!
From: Mo the caller
Date: 18 May 11 - 10:17 AM

Two other thoughts.
There's nothing traditional about celebrating the first Monday in May - may Day should be May 1st. (but a holiday is a good thing for the workers)

Bit late (or early) for this on May 18th.

Subject: RE: Save May Day! Create a maypole Forest!
From: GUEST,Floksnog
Date: 18 May 11 - 10:26 AM

My thought was to give myself plenty of time....

I was thinking about general May Day inspiration, not just 'traditional', or 'old', or even 'Pagan' ones - Maypoles galore!

I was even thinking about ones not necessarily used on May the 1st or the first Monday in May.

Its not an analytical project, more a general view of how May Day (and its manifestations) are in the (sub-?)consciousness of people and culture.

Subject: RE: Save May Day! Create a maypole Forest!
From: Little Robyn
Date: 18 May 11 - 06:58 PM

Sounds like fun. Start with the one in Padstow, in Broad Street.
Robyn