![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
Maypole history
Having read further, I have to say that my suspicions regarding the maypole dancing with ribbons at the Buxton well-dressing in 1870 turn out to be unjustified.
I've now read the appropriate chapter in Huttons 'Stations of the Sun' (a wonderful book that I cannot recommend too highly if you want to read accurate historical detail rather than waffly speculation about calendar customs), I discover that the first maypole dances in Britain were not those introduced by Ruskin, but imitations of stage performances (presumably using European dances) that were popular on the London stage from 1836 onwards (presumably with adults-though I can't state that for certain). Hotton says that these stage dances involved plaits (but they may not have been limited to plaits) and that the pole was held by the dancers (the pole being held by the dancers, rather than having a base to keep it upright, is very common in European countries to this day) It was these that inspired the Derbyshire dances from 1840 onwards, and they dispersed outwards from Buxton initially, starting to appear in southern fetes around 1850 and by 1880, the ribbon dances had replaced the older maypole dances across the country.
Ruskin visited events in Cheshire in the 1860s and saw both the maypole dances and the may queen ceremonies that went with them. The May Queens in this period were little girls - I don't know about the age of the maypole dancers - I haven't seen a reference that gives an age. (there is a strong implication that a key one in northern Cheshire had children performing the dance). It was in 1881 that Ruskin teamed up with JP Faunthorpe, principal of Whitelands teacher training college, to design a May Queen ceremony there, complete with maypole dance. The ceremony carries on to this day. They've moved with the times - sometimes they have a May King now (photo and text of interest to Abbey book fans)
As pupils graduated from Whitelands, they took the May Day ceremony with them and spread it right across the country, though it's important to note that although most modern May Queens/maypole dances descend from Whitelands, some predate it and others were created by teachers who didn't go to Whitelands.
In short, maypole dancing with ribbons in England goes back to 1840 as the earliest date, rather than 1881 as I'd previously assumed. (I'm not counting the actual London stage performance)
I've now read the appropriate chapter in Huttons 'Stations of the Sun' (a wonderful book that I cannot recommend too highly if you want to read accurate historical detail rather than waffly speculation about calendar customs), I discover that the first maypole dances in Britain were not those introduced by Ruskin, but imitations of stage performances (presumably using European dances) that were popular on the London stage from 1836 onwards (presumably with adults-though I can't state that for certain). Hotton says that these stage dances involved plaits (but they may not have been limited to plaits) and that the pole was held by the dancers (the pole being held by the dancers, rather than having a base to keep it upright, is very common in European countries to this day) It was these that inspired the Derbyshire dances from 1840 onwards, and they dispersed outwards from Buxton initially, starting to appear in southern fetes around 1850 and by 1880, the ribbon dances had replaced the older maypole dances across the country.
Ruskin visited events in Cheshire in the 1860s and saw both the maypole dances and the may queen ceremonies that went with them. The May Queens in this period were little girls - I don't know about the age of the maypole dancers - I haven't seen a reference that gives an age. (there is a strong implication that a key one in northern Cheshire had children performing the dance). It was in 1881 that Ruskin teamed up with JP Faunthorpe, principal of Whitelands teacher training college, to design a May Queen ceremony there, complete with maypole dance. The ceremony carries on to this day. They've moved with the times - sometimes they have a May King now (photo and text of interest to Abbey book fans)
As pupils graduated from Whitelands, they took the May Day ceremony with them and spread it right across the country, though it's important to note that although most modern May Queens/maypole dances descend from Whitelands, some predate it and others were created by teachers who didn't go to Whitelands.
In short, maypole dancing with ribbons in England goes back to 1840 as the earliest date, rather than 1881 as I'd previously assumed. (I'm not counting the actual London stage performance)
no subject
no subject
There are quite English early records of the poles. Some of them were very tall and permanent, some were erected every year.
We have absolutely no way of knowing if they were pre-Christian as records don't go back that far.
I haven't done as much research on the poles as my focus is on the ribbon dances - if you're interested, Hutton will be the man to read.
no subject