Sunday, May 16, 2010

maypole celebration

Our family was invited this afternoon to join a few other local families in a maypole celebration. Although this celebration usually occurs on or around May Day, many of us were busy that weekend and then Mother's Day came so we chose to celebrate this weekend which came with perfectly splendid weather so I think that was a good choice.

We began the celebration by gathering many different varieties of flowers.


With the gathered flowers, a wreath making station was set up including some wild vines to hold the flowers.


The flowers wreaths which emerged under the children's hands were amazing. So full of spring's wild color!


Once everyone who wanted to had made their wreath,


down to our smallest group members,


the maypole dancing commenced.


We are so fortunate to have professional musicians in our small group, and they graciously blessed us with festive music during the maypole dance.


Once the maypole had been wrapped this way and that,


we tried some fancy wrapping...which didn't work out so well. It was such a fantastic experience though. I saw smiles on every face from the babies to the preschoolers to the upper elementary aged to the mamas and papas.


After we had sufficiently danced our way around the maypole, the kids gave the zipline a workout.



What an afternoon! After a few hours, it was clear the kids had played out nearly every last ounce of energy.


And then some!


I hope we'll get to do this again in the future. I can't say enough good things about how much fun it's been to find a small group with whom to celebrate these seasonal festivals!


13 comments:

  1. Looks like you all had such a fun time! I love the flower wreaths :)

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  2. Oh, the flower crowns are just gorgeous!!!!! I have to say I'm a bit particular to the white one. I agree, celebrating spring can be done anytime. What a wonderful day and I so wish we could have participated with you.

    lisa

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  3. Fun! how nice to have a group of people who celebrate the seasons the way you do!

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  4. so neat! i'm glad you had great weather!

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  5. beautiful.looks like a lovely community of people and the flower crowns are amazing!

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  6. Oh Joy it looks like it was so much fun! I love the community you are creating <3 <3

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  7. Looks like a fabulous time! Love all the colors in the flowers!

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  8. What a lovely celebration Joy:)

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  9. How did you learn how to dance around the maypole?
    -Phyllis

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  10. Those flower crowns are so gorgeous. I love a Maypole celebration, and yours looks like so much fun. What a great way to enjoy the weekend

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  11. I am so envious, not only that you have such a nice, like minded group like that, but that you gus put together such a perfectly lovely Maypole celebration. I have searched high and low for one locally each May in our neck of the woods and never seem to find one. :(
    That photo of the baby with the flowers on his/ her head is precious -- one for framing!!

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  12. Finding those like-minded folks is the best-isn't it. That celebration looks like the most wonderful of times.

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  13. It looks like you had a fantastic day...I LOVE the flowers!

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