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03 Sep 05 - 07:32 PM (#1555671) Subject: wanted- a maypole From: Gin Crewe 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. |
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03 Sep 05 - 07:51 PM (#1555688) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: Liz the Squeak 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 |
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03 Sep 05 - 09:51 PM (#1555758) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: GUEST,Barrie Roberts 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. |
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03 Sep 05 - 10:20 PM (#1555779) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: Sorcha Go cut down a tree.....sheesh. |
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04 Sep 05 - 12:21 AM (#1555835) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: GUEST,.gargoyle 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 |
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04 Sep 05 - 12:57 AM (#1555855) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: Stilly River Sage 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 |
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04 Sep 05 - 11:30 AM (#1555901) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: Manitas_at_home See http://www.melodybay.com/index.php?action=view_artist&artistid=mikeruff Mike has a maypole for hire. |
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04 Sep 05 - 11:38 AM (#1555906) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: MudGuard 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) |
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04 Sep 05 - 12:05 PM (#1555930) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: GUEST,.gargoyle 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, |
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04 Sep 05 - 05:56 PM (#1556115) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: fiddler 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. |
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04 Sep 05 - 06:22 PM (#1556133) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: Gin Crewe 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. |
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04 Sep 05 - 06:27 PM (#1556144) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: Mrs.Duck 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. |
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04 Sep 05 - 06:29 PM (#1556146) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: Gin Crewe Thanks! I know about the immediately local ones but haven't thought of looking slightly further afield. I feel better all of a sudden! |
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04 Sep 05 - 07:29 PM (#1556187) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: GUEST,.gargoyle GIN
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04 Sep 05 - 10:21 PM (#1556274) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: Owlkat 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 ;-) |
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05 Sep 05 - 01:50 AM (#1556330) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: yrlancslad 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! |
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05 Sep 05 - 01:57 AM (#1556332) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: Peace See alphabetical listing--Maypole Dancing. |
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05 Sep 05 - 02:24 AM (#1556342) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: The Fooles Troupe I haven't heard Gin complaining, |
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05 Sep 05 - 02:40 AM (#1556349) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: yrlancslad Yes she has Fools troop, twice, check back |
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05 Sep 05 - 02:48 AM (#1556352) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: Peace See e-mail address at bottom of link. |
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05 Sep 05 - 04:06 AM (#1556375) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: manitas_at_work 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! |
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05 Sep 05 - 07:17 AM (#1556437) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: GUEST 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 |
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05 Sep 05 - 11:14 AM (#1556574) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: Wilfried Schaum 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 |
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05 Sep 05 - 12:06 PM (#1556603) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: yrlancslad 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. |
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05 Sep 05 - 12:40 PM (#1556629) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: Liz the Squeak 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 |
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05 Sep 05 - 12:46 PM (#1556634) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: Stilly River Sage 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. |
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05 Sep 05 - 12:50 PM (#1556638) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: Liz the Squeak 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 |
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05 Sep 05 - 12:59 PM (#1556646) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: Rasener 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/ |
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05 Sep 05 - 05:14 PM (#1556903) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: GUEST 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. |
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05 Sep 05 - 06:06 PM (#1556948) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: Liz the Squeak And people wonder why we don't get new people coming in to stay..... LTS |
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06 Sep 05 - 07:25 AM (#1557357) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: GUEST 24 hours ago i half voluntered a maypole why is know one intrested |
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06 Sep 05 - 08:08 AM (#1557388) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: manitas_at_work Gin probably hasn't checked back here since then! |
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06 Sep 05 - 08:31 AM (#1557399) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: GUEST,leeneia 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. |
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06 Sep 05 - 05:26 PM (#1557945) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: Gin Crewe 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. |
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06 Sep 05 - 05:43 PM (#1557964) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: Peace If they marry in June, will they still need a maypole? |
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06 Sep 05 - 05:53 PM (#1557972) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: Stilly River Sage 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 |
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06 Sep 05 - 06:25 PM (#1557983) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: The Fooles Troupe "24 hours ago i half voluntered a maypole why is know one intrested " I dare say your half-hearted suggestion was taken half seriously. |
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07 Sep 05 - 12:06 AM (#1558194) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: GUEST 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. |
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07 Sep 05 - 10:55 AM (#1558513) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: Paul Burke 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. |
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08 Sep 05 - 01:05 AM (#1558776) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: GUEST Disregarding references to the Luftwuft
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08 Sep 05 - 01:16 AM (#1558778) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: GUEST Where is does anyone create connections between the Luftwuft and maypoles?
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08 Sep 05 - 04:17 AM (#1558820) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: manitas_at_work 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. |
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08 Sep 05 - 04:42 AM (#1558830) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: John MacKenzie I quite like Ironclads Giok [Hope this helps cariad!] |
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08 Sep 05 - 05:16 AM (#1558852) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: Mo the caller St Thomas' School Stockton Heath Warrington has one. I dont know if its avialable for hire, or whether you are N or S Lancs. |
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08 Sep 05 - 05:32 AM (#1558857) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: The Fooles Troupe Gin - I just have to ask - do you want the trained dancers too? |
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08 Sep 05 - 07:24 AM (#1558916) Subject: Lyr Add: THE FIRST OF MAY From: GUEST,Robin Madge 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 |
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08 Sep 05 - 06:44 PM (#1559358) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: Gin Crewe 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. |
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08 Sep 05 - 07:00 PM (#1559369) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: The Fooles Troupe No wasn't an offer, but was interested. I was wondering whether you were planning to teach the guests on the spot... :-) |
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08 Sep 05 - 09:14 PM (#1559441) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: Malcolm Douglas 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. |
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08 Sep 05 - 10:33 PM (#1559467) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: GUEST "Teacher Workshops" a throw back to feudal days of serfs and gentry. |
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08 Sep 05 - 11:24 PM (#1559483) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: GUEST,Kent Davis 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.) |
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08 Sep 05 - 11:35 PM (#1559485) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: Desert Dancer 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) |
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09 Sep 05 - 09:49 AM (#1559755) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: GUEST 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 |
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09 Sep 05 - 11:13 AM (#1559831) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: Sue Wilcock 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? |
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10 Sep 05 - 10:03 AM (#1560420) Subject: RE: wanted- a maypole From: Gin Crewe Mnay thanks. I'm in N Lancashire so several of those addresses sound very possible I must get organised! |
