Over the Garden Fence: May Day events slated at Harvey One-Room School
Watching the snowfall a day after Easter makes my next remark seem full of craziness. You are invited to 1120 Caldwell Road and the Harvey One-Room School on Sunday, May 1, between 1 and 4 p.m. as we rejoice in the arrival of spring.
The celebration of spring goes back to before the birth of Christ. England grabbed the notion from Romans and dubbed it "merrie month of May." There was music, dancing, an abundance of harvested flowers and blooming branches gathered — "going-a-Maying" — making the setting festive. May Day celebrations came and went for a long time celebrating growth in a season which signals renewal. Festivities ran from bonfires and dancing to skill contests. The Puritans in early America banned such days as pagan. We are hoping to bring back a spirit for spring's arrival.
In European towns a favorite tree or erected Maypole of supple birch was tied off at the top with clusters of colored strands of fabric. Boys and girls, men and women costumed and barefoot each held a fabric strand moving to music in an under-out-and over pattern in opposite directions. This resulted in a woven effect on that pole. Harvey School has such a set up. We will be using this very old tradition.
May baskets woven of natural materials or folded from paper scraps were delivered to doorsteps or hung from doorknobs, laden with small flowers of spring. Children would cheer friends this way. One account explained that these baskets could be filled with cookies, candies, flowers or "any other delightful surprise." The element of surprise was really the deliverer fleeing for cover. Members of Earth, Wind and Flowers Garden Club will be directing the making of baskets and filling them with fresh flowers and herbs.
There's more the garden club will share. An activity will feature pansies with poetry, tradition and actual potting of a plant. A sachet activity will bring together petals of dried flowers, lavender, essential oils and orris root. The potpourri will then be bagged. A Mother's Day country love knot will be decorated.
There will be no May queen. We ARE having a "dress your doll for May Day" contest for ages 3 to 20 and 20 and older — not the doll but the human being. Peg Vasil will judge them at 2 p.m.
Those attending will be able to see an atlatl spear launch with Jeremy Snyder. From 2 to 2:30 Dr. Brad Castle will share history on the use of bow and arrow. Instruction and application will follow with Jeremy and Dr. Castle directing.
"Remembering May Day" is our first attempt to celebrate components of this history in the school setting. There are no registrations and the day is free to everyone, young and old.
Bring your curiosity and doll and help us welcome spring.
Mary Lee Minor is a member of the Earth, Wind and Flowers Garden Club, an accredited master gardener, a flower show judge for the Ohio Association of Garden Clubs and a former sixth grade teacher.
This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: Over the Garden Fence: May Day event at the Harvey One-Room School
