vera_j: (Default)
vera_j ([personal profile] vera_j) wrote2008-05-01 08:08 pm

Raising a maypole

Yesterday evening was at a sign of "burning the witches" and raising a maypole. It is a long, long tradition but now limited mostly only to villages. There are not real witches burnt, there are big fires and people gather around and share drinks and celebrate a springtime and love. The most resilient ones stay overnight to guard the maypole because the boys from other villages always try to cut down other maypoles.
We were lucky this year, it was not raining and our maypole is intact. Our boys however cut down two other maypoles - and had to ruuuuuuuun!
Raising a tall tree trunk needs a team work and a good logistics:
1.A clean fir trunk with a wreath and ribbons still on the ground


2.The boys secure a wreath



2.3.5. The maypole goes up



a href="http://pics.livejournal.com/vjezkova/pic/0001984e/">


5.Evening celebrations

[identity profile] dougal-al.livejournal.com 2008-05-14 09:04 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm a bit nervous about 'the burning of witches' ceremony. Being one you can understand this is not an easy thing for ne to witness - but I trust you and I know you wouldn't harm anyone! Right!
Alison

[identity profile] vjezkova.livejournal.com 2008-05-15 05:11 am (UTC)(link)
Indeed, Alison, I can assure you, no harm was done to anybody :-)
All this is only symbolical and you would be welomed as a most honorable guest!Anyway - lots of masked girls appeared around and even if i know them all, they were such nice old and ugly fairy-tale witches that I didn“t recognised them and had to ask! *Grins*

[identity profile] dougal-al.livejournal.com 2008-05-15 09:36 am (UTC)(link)
Ok so I may be 39 but until the plastic surgeon says I need his help I remain my true self (and I'm, not all that ugly) I have witnesses to say so!

[identity profile] vjezkova.livejournal.com 2008-05-15 10:44 am (UTC)(link)
LOL!