"Bryn Mawr, PA- May Pole 1926

[jeff of pa]

(Original Caption) 5/1/1926- Bryn Mawr, PA- : The annual May Day exercises were held on the campus of Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania, and attracted a great many visitors. As this celebration always attracts much interest. The Queen of May this year was Miss Molly Parker of Boston, MA, who is also the president of the senior class. This photo shows the May Pole Dance at Bryn Mawr College, on May Day.

 

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[Mackaydon]

Jeff,
An interesting pic. My mother attended Bryn Mawr College and attended these May Day celebrations (she was 20 when this pic was taken). 'Fast forward' to the 1940's when I participated in the May Day celebrations (Maypole) held on the footfall field of Eastchester HS in Westchester County, NY.

Some history: Originally, the maypole was a living tree, and Celts danced around the tree praying for the fertility of their crops and all living things. The beginning of summer was also celebrated on May 1st.
Thanks for the post.
Don in SoCal

 

[jeff of pa]

Yea I Remember doing the Maypole one year
in Grade school . If I Remember right we were Dressed like Pirates.
shortly after that they banned may day celebrations here as communist/socialist or something

 

[Mackaydon]

Some history: President Grover Cleveland feared the socialist and communist origins of the holiday, and worried that May Day celebrations would encourage people to join radical causes. Instead, he established Labor Day (the first Monday in September) as a federal holiday in 1894.
Don in SoCal

 

[jeff of pa]

The Williams Valley School here has a Field Day now.
No Idea of the date but it's all Athletic Events

 

[jeff of pa]

1940 Pittsburg

1936 Pittsburg

 

[malenkai]

We had a maypole at my grade school (early 70s, SE PA). They of course banned it a few years later. I saw one on private property around here I was detecting (large farm estate), didn't look like it was still in use.