wanted- a maypole

Subject: wanted- a maypole
From: Gin Crewe
Date: 03 Sep 05 - 07:32 PM

I need a maypole for around 4th May next year in Lancashire, UK.Anyone know where I might find one?

It's part of some wedding celebrations for a friend.

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 03 Sep 05 - 07:51 PM

There's one stuck to a wall in London - St somethings Undershaft, in the City.... maybe they wouldn't notice it if it went 'on holiday'...?

Seriously, you need to think how tall you want it and how long it has to stay upright and safe. If you go erecting maypoles in the middle of pub gardens or parks you may run into some interesting health and safety issues.

LTS

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: GUEST,Barrie Roberts
Date: 03 Sep 05 - 09:51 PM

This raises the question as to whether there is (or ever was) a 'standard' Maypole. I always thought that you made your pole to your own concept and danced around it. You should probably bear in mind that the Puritan Stubbs called the Maypole a 'filthy, stinking wickedness', so once you've obeyed all the construction, planning, licensing, health and safety laws, be careful what you dance!
At Maytime in Bluefields, on the Atlantic Coast of Guiana, they dance a wonderfully erotic May dance called 'The Four Old Ladies' (actually 3 ladies and a fourth one dressed as a man). After I'd seen that on a TV film I began to understand what Stubbs was raving about.

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: Sorcha
Date: 03 Sep 05 - 10:20 PM

Go cut down a tree.....sheesh.

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 04 Sep 05 - 12:21 AM

The tradition, (from my experience) appears strongest in Germany, and supported by the local breweries.

As noted above.....find a fine straight pine....wack it down.....place it on a "hindge" between two metal uprights set in concreat (so you can roll the pole down and add/remove materials)

The finest examples of May Poles I have found are in Barvaria.

Sincerely,

Gargoyle

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Sep 05 - 12:57 AM

Ah, yes. Gargoyle understands. Find a stiff pole to whack then put in place so it will be upright when you want it. That sounds about right!

;-D

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 04 Sep 05 - 11:30 AM

See http://www.melodybay.com/index.php?action=view_artist&artistid=mikeruff

Mike has a maypole for hire.

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: MudGuard
Date: 04 Sep 05 - 11:38 AM

The traditional Maibaum (maypole) is made like this:

take a tall pine or fir (the straighter the better).
Cut off all branches, remove the bark.
paint it in two spirals in white and light blue (hint: the colors of the Bavarian flag are white and light blue).

A weathercock is a nice peace for the top (but not absolutely necessary), but sometimes the top few branches are left there.

From the branches, make a wreath and use colored ribbons to tie it to the pole (near the top).

Now make the guild signs (usually each guild in the village makes its own sign - the baker usually a bretzl, the smith hammer and amboss, and so on).

These signs are mounted in pairs left and right of the pole on stakes that are stuck through the pole.

In many cases, the coat of arms of the village is added as well.

(in more modern times, as the guilds are vanishing, local clubs can put their signs on as well).

The usual date for erecting the maypole is the first of May.

No machinery is used for erecting except some stakes (always two stakes connected by some rope - the pole resting on the rope), just the muscles of all the young men of the village.
As gargoyle said, a maypole is placed in a hinge (nowadays steel in concrete, earlier on a wooden construction).

(I don't mention the tricky bits about guarding the pole, stealing the pole, freeing the pole ...)

Maibaum 1
Maibaum 2
Maibaum 3
erecting a Maibaum

MudGuard (from Bavaria, the place where the maypoles originally come from)

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 04 Sep 05 - 12:05 PM

Procuring a pole
http://www.hs-ffb-west.de/Schulleben/Maibaum/maibaum.html

A fine example of getting it erect - may be found in Fuerstenfeldbruck - a village historically associated with getting things into the air.

http://www.kgl-priv-fsg-fuerstenfeldbruck.de/Veranstaltung/Alte_Seiten/2002/Maibaum_2002/body_maibaum_2002.html

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: fiddler
Date: 04 Sep 05 - 05:56 PM

When we needed one we made one! You have lots of time, Old marguee poles are a good start. Everyone has a ate who is a welder to make a heavy base then there is just the top, plastic kids bike wheeels all joined together with a loy of ingenuity.......


Thats tradition 4 you.

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: Gin Crewe
Date: 04 Sep 05 - 06:22 PM

yes, all very clever but not really what I asked for! What I want is a standard issue, boring old maypole, somewhere in Lancashire. Nothing fancy, just the sort that some of us might have danced round at school when younger.

I'll take that to mean there aren't any in the locality.

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 04 Sep 05 - 06:27 PM

Try contacting local morris sides ,Gin. They may well have danced around or close to one. The Morris ring or Morris Federation will have lists.

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: Gin Crewe
Date: 04 Sep 05 - 06:29 PM

Thanks! I know about the immediately local ones but haven't thought of looking slightly further afield. I feel better all of a sudden!

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 04 Sep 05 - 07:29 PM

GIN

It appears that what you are suggesting to attempt...maybe VERY sacriligious!!!

God Lorde help you and the wedding party if Voden should take offence.

Sincerely,

Gargoyle

If it ain'ts worth doing RIGHT....it ain'ts worth doing at all.

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: Owlkat
Date: 04 Sep 05 - 10:21 PM

A maypole you say? Well, we've still got a few trees left on Vancouver Island, so remind me sooner to the event and I'll send you one. Just a word of warning; the postage might seriously hurt.
Cheers,
Marti
;-)

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: yrlancslad
Date: 05 Sep 05 - 01:50 AM

I really find all the faceacous (sp?) replies on Mudcat not very useful and rather boring. Here are 20 replies to Gins question and only on of possible use. Get a life folks!

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: Peace
Date: 05 Sep 05 - 01:57 AM

See alphabetical listing--Maypole Dancing.

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 05 Sep 05 - 02:24 AM

I haven't heard Gin complaining,

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: yrlancslad
Date: 05 Sep 05 - 02:40 AM

Yes she has Fools troop, twice, check back

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: Peace
Date: 05 Sep 05 - 02:48 AM

See e-mail address at bottom of link.

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 05 Sep 05 - 04:06 AM

yrlancslad,

There were several usefull suggestions here. One to hire one and several to make one. If you're not going to make a useful suggestion yourself then shut up!

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Sep 05 - 07:17 AM

I have one (my own)in yorkshire but until things are sorted at school I cannot confirm wether you may be able to borow it

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 05 Sep 05 - 11:14 AM

Message:
If any of you are brave enough to fancy a trip to the drier side of the Pennines to pick it up, there is a maypole up for auction on ebay on behalf of my local school which has no interest in using it any more.

And a fine maypole is at Barwick-in-Elmet

But perhaps you prefer a smaller one

And as a last resort there still is MudGuard to play the maypole

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: yrlancslad
Date: 05 Sep 05 - 12:06 PM

Yeah sure manitas, first find your pine tree, then cut it down andpeel the bark etc.The suggestion to hire one was the one possible soution I refered to so shut up yourself.
Wilfried seems to have some good ideas though I haven't followed the links myself.

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 05 Sep 05 - 12:40 PM

yrlancslad - the suggestion to hire a maypole came from the very person you have just told to shut up. So yah boo sucks to you!

Wilfrieds links give some very pretty pictures, indicating the use of major lifting equipment would be necessary for a big pole. The picture of the children seems to be a much smaller one, probably made for the occasion and on what looks like a simple cross piece stand. It's probably similar to the one he mentions for sale onEbay. The link for Ebay gives a few hits, none of which are for proper maypoles for dancing round, only the use of Maypole as a business, a product name or a picture of various maypoles. The one here from the school that he referred to was sold on 15th July.

Follow links and read the posts again before you jump on someone.

LTS

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Sep 05 - 12:46 PM

yrlancslad, relax. Learn to skim a thread and read what you want. If you can't contribute to the humor, don't highlight your shortcomings by contributing to the gloom.

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 05 Sep 05 - 12:50 PM

Having looked closely at the picture of the one sold on Ebay, it looks like it's an aluminium pole attached to a square stand with a cross in it, the pole coming upright from the centre of the cross. This has then been topped with a headpiece which seems to be independant - i.e., it swivels. It's a circle or wheel with a number of hooks on it (for the ribbons to tie to) and a crown above that. They appear to have been made out of pipes.

I reckon that with a little help from a welder and a couple of trips to your local DIY superstore or plumbers yard, you could probably knock one up yourself.

Good luck, hope you get something.

LTS

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: Rasener
Date: 05 Sep 05 - 12:59 PM

Gin
I can tell you that Market Rasen Primary School in Lincolnshire get their children to dance around the maypole every year on Mayday.
A young man called Liam Robinson teaches the children how to dance etc.

Suggest you go on the following website, where you will be able to find contact details

http://www.minimorris.co.uk/

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Sep 05 - 05:14 PM

yrlancslad, you complain about postings in this thread which do not help answering the original question.
Now tell me which of your three messages in this thread answers the original question?
In my opinion, none of them. You are directly responsible for more than 11% (3 of 27) of the answers so far (before this posting), and some more which are just answers to you, but you have not contributed to the solution at all.

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 05 Sep 05 - 06:06 PM

And people wonder why we don't get new people coming in to stay.....

LTS

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Sep 05 - 07:25 AM

24 hours ago i half voluntered a maypole why is know one intrested

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 06 Sep 05 - 08:08 AM

Gin probably hasn't checked back here since then!

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 06 Sep 05 - 08:31 AM

I don't know what materials are available in the U.K., but if I were to make one here in the U.S., I believe I would use PVC or ABS pipe for the pole. If one pole isn't long enough, I would join more lengths with in-line connectors. I would anchor it in concrete blocks. (Thrust the pole through the openings in a number of blocks, then pour in pea-size gravel to prevent tipping.) I would paint the pole to make it prettier, and I would hide the blocks with fabric.

Before erecting the pole, fasten the ribbons to the top.

This method uses cheap materials which are readily available and could be used for something else once the celebration is over.

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: Gin Crewe
Date: 06 Sep 05 - 05:26 PM

Dear all,
Thank you for your suggestions. I DID look yesterday but was terrified by the furore!

Dear, kind guest, could you possible get in contact somehow? I don't think you can pm if you are a guest: pardon me if I am wrong. I will be at Skipton FC on 20th Sept if that is any good- is that your part of Yorkshire?

I have also made enquiries amongst you following up some suggestions.You know who you are!

I really am not up to making a maypole, I fear!   It was just abit of frivolity for a friend's wedding, and not to be taken too seriously.

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: Peace
Date: 06 Sep 05 - 05:43 PM

If they marry in June, will they still need a maypole?

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Sep 05 - 05:53 PM

The Maypole shown in the photos at the top looks to be quite a serious operation. It reminds me of the look of some of the highway light poles here in the U.S., that have a large pole and a large circling piece that is raised and lowered by a chain apparatus. It holds a number of heavy duty lights and is meant to illuminate entire highway intersections and cloverleafs. I wonder what engineer gets the credit for "inventing" that kind of highway lighting, and if he maybe grew up observing how Maypoles work?

SRS

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 06 Sep 05 - 06:25 PM

"24 hours ago i half voluntered a maypole why is know one intrested "

I dare say your half-hearted suggestion was taken half seriously.

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Sep 05 - 12:06 AM

Disregarding Gargoyle'snide references to the Luftwuft his non-blue-clicky URLs are probably the most helpful in this thread.....for those desiring to raise a true may-pole.

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: Paul Burke
Date: 07 Sep 05 - 10:55 AM

Try the obvious sources for poles. Warsaw. Magnet. Gallup. Failsworth. North. Any pole dancing club. |1+sT| = 0 (in the denominator). The front of the grid.

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Sep 05 - 01:05 AM

Disregarding references to the Luftwuft

Seig Heil!!!

GUEST...You too .... were one Born in the Aire?

Holy crap...1000 times the members....and one tenth the responce....were did the intellect go????...or is this bbs, just Joe, Max, Green, and a handful of reluctant clones?

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Sep 05 - 01:16 AM

Where is does anyone create connections between the Luftwuft and maypoles?

If the association is estabalished, our school must stop its 20 year tradition and many of our parents would be angry.

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 08 Sep 05 - 04:17 AM

I still don't see whats wrong with the suggestions about making maypoles yourself. After all that's what people did and still do! And yrlancslad still hasn't made ANY useful contribution.

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 08 Sep 05 - 04:42 AM

I quite like Ironclads
Giok [Hope this helps cariad!]

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: Mo the caller
Date: 08 Sep 05 - 05:16 AM

St Thomas' School Stockton Heath Warrington has one. I dont know if its avialable for hire, or whether you are N or S Lancs.

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 08 Sep 05 - 05:32 AM

Gin - I just have to ask - do you want the trained dancers too?

Subject: Lyr Add: THE FIRST OF MAY
From: GUEST,Robin Madge
Date: 08 Sep 05 - 07:24 AM

People seem to be thinking that a Maypole will be large and fixed to the ground. The Lancashire Maypoles were quite often only about 6 feet long and carried by one person whilst the others dance around. Consider the words from the song written by, I think, Steve Heap?

THE FIRST OF MAY.

My Granny said the other night, "Next Monday is the day
To mark the ending of the old, it is the first of May."
"Now what's so special." we all cried, "Do we get a day off school ?
Do we go for a bike ride down our lane, or a trip to the swimming pool ?"
Well Granny sat us quietly down and opened her book to read.
"You kids are losing heritage to spaceships, telly and speed.
If only for one minute a day you'd just sit down and try
To think about the days of old. Don't let tradition die."

CH. Like Easter eggs and Bonfire Night and Christmas and New Year,
Our Maypole means so much to us, so give us a rousing cheer.

"When I was younger and lived at home, my brothers and sisters and me
Would work for hours through April showers with ribbons and paint, you see.
All the colours we could find and trim them up so neat
That when the first of May came round we'd the best pole in our street.
The morning of the first of May was special to us all.
We'd dance around the Maypole and on our friends we'd call.
We'd knock on doors and sing our songs with garlands and banners and chains,
And pick up the pennies that folks threw down to drive off the April rains."

Her words put new life in our blood, we'd two days left to go.
Johnny found a wooden pole and painted it for show,
And Susie cut the ribbons up, and Gran taught us the song,
And when the first of May came round we'd do it, right or wrong.
We danced 'til nine o'clock that morn and then set off for school.
We told the teachers what we'd done and I felt a proper fool,
But they were very pleased with us and we showed the class the way
To dance around the Maypole and welcome in the May.

Recorded from the Radio presentation " Sticks and Bells". by Steve Heap?

This pre-dates the Mayday holiday obviously, the show went out on Radio 2 in 1982.

Robin Madge

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: Gin Crewe
Date: 08 Sep 05 - 06:44 PM

No, dear reader, we don't need trained dancers, so if that was a kindly offer, thankyou! . We used to do (and even teach, perish the thought!) maypole dancing, hence the interest in borrowing a maypole. The wedding is in early May and my friend loves folk dancing and uses maypoles as symbols on badges, decorations, etc.

Thank you for all the advice and comments.

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 08 Sep 05 - 07:00 PM

No wasn't an offer, but was interested. I was wondering whether you were planning to teach the guests on the spot... :-)

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 08 Sep 05 - 09:14 PM

We used a portable maypole for a teachers' workshop a couple of years back, next door in Yorkshire. See Teaching Maypole Dancing for a picture and contact details. I've no idea whose maypole it was, but Ron Day will certainly be able to advise you and provide contacts.

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Sep 05 - 10:33 PM

"Teacher Workshops" a throw back to feudal days of serfs and gentry.

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: GUEST,Kent Davis
Date: 08 Sep 05 - 11:24 PM

My wife made one for the children with an 8-foot-long, 2-inch- diameter wooden pole (from Lowe's hardware), some silk flowers and ribbons, and a 4-foot length of PVC pipe hammered about two feet into the ground. Cost was less than $50 and took less than 2 hours to make. Obviously smaller than an authentic one, but it would perhaps do nicely for a decoration. (We had six children dancing around ours. If there are children in the wedding party, it would be nice for them.)

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 08 Sep 05 - 11:35 PM

We used what was probably an 8-foot pole (I was amazed how little of it stuck out of the rear of my Mazda Protege when I stuck squeezed it in there on a whim) at a baby shower in Nogales, Arizona. I and the mom-to-be stood in the middle to hold it up.

(It was an interesting event -- two friends and I played English country dance music and Irish tunes as background music to a party of mostly bilingual or entirely Spanish-speaking women, with the Maypole as one of the entertainments, and which I had to explain the workings of partly in my high school Spanish... anyway, the ladies had a fine time, it seemed!)

~ Becky in Tucson, Arizona, 1 1/2 hours from the border (Nogales, Ariz. and Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, being right across the border from each other)

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Sep 05 - 09:49 AM

Try the local schools, a project I worked with (in Bradford)a few years ago, decided to do some May day celebrations which included May pole dancing and we ended up putting an appeal out on local radio which resulted in a school donating a pole they got hidden away in a cellar. We had fun and games teaching the dances though as the person who said they would come and teach the dances didn't turn up, so in the end a couple of co-workers had a quick practice and put together some sort of a display and taught it to the participants and no one was any the wiser, in fact they were asked if they could come and do it again the following year.

Good luck

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: Sue Wilcock
Date: 09 Sep 05 - 11:13 AM

Contact Rivington Primary school, it's on the Lancashire/ Greater Mnachester border.They use one for their village festival in May but I think it's the weekend after. When I've seen it at the village festival it looks fairly portable- maybe they could lend or hire it to you for the day?

Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole
From: Gin Crewe
Date: 10 Sep 05 - 10:03 AM

Mnay thanks. I'm in N Lancashire so several of those addresses sound very possible

I must get organised!