Raising a maypole

[vera_j]

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

Comments

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

Oh it is so nice to know that the old customs are still practiced some where in the world. Your village should be lucky this year since you kept your Maypole intact and got the Maypoles from 2 other villages. That is a very tall Maypole compared to ours, the British ones are only about 2 meters tall.

[hafren.livejournal.com]

The most resilient ones stay overnight to guard the maypole because the boys from other villages always try to cut down other maypoles.

The same everywhere then..... my maypole's bigger than yours:)

[watervole.livejournal.com]

Many thanks for the photos. I love learning about old customs.

In England, we sometimes have Maypole dancing with ribbons, but the poles aren't as tall as yours.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

What fun! I wish we had traditions like that here but we're too young--and it's the wrong season all the time anyway.

[entropy-house.livejournal.com]

Looks like an exciting adventure, especially for the Maypole Marauders! :^)

[sallymn.livejournal.com]

Oh wow. Oh wow, I love old folklore and seeing how it still works in the modern work. And the photos are lovely!

[sophiedb.livejournal.com]

Here via watervole's post.

Thank you for this! I used to love dancing maypole at school, but hardly ever see it here in the UK any more :(

[hellblazer06.livejournal.com]

These pics are great! I'd never seen a maypole before last year.

[dougal-al.livejournal.com]

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