In the Merry Month of May
Dance Around the Maypole
In and out, in and out,
Weave the ribbons tight;
'Round the Maypole we will dance
To the left and to the right.
In and out, in and out,
Weave the ribbons tight;
'Round the Maypole we will dance
To the left and to the right.
Yesterday began with the procession of the May Pole, led by the 8th graders and their 1st grade buddies. Each class then danced with the dances becoming more complicated.
Hels and her friends played for several of the dances.
She was also the official caller for the Morris dance.
After the dancing, the games and feasting began. There was lots of strawberry shortcake. The cake walk always brings the most excitement--it's a musical chairs sort of game with the winner getting a cake. The cakes were a sight to behold this year:The lollipop cakes are always popular
The adults all gazed in rapture over this maypole cake
but the talk of the day was Mr. Snake Cake
I have to note that Hels won her first cake in 10 years of May Fairs. Hurrah!
My favorite part of the day was watching Lou and her 2 friends play violin for the cake walk. All by themselves they had composed a sweet little round to the song "Oh How Lovely is the Evening". It was quite beautiful.
On the spur of the moment, Hels and her friends set up a jewelry booth to benefit their 8th grade class trip. They made $100! Lots of Moms were walking around sporting new earrings made by Hels.
Put little children in pale dresses and flower crowns with lambs and bunnies and you get serious spring cuteness.
This little girl not only got to pet the lambs....she had also just won a cake. She was one happy little girl.
The 2nd graders made Hels this crown for her birthday. Isn't it beautiful? I love the relationships that the older children have with the little ones at our school.
The fair ends with the arrival of Lady Spring and King Winter. The girls all trail Lady Spring up to the hill.
The boys all cluster about King Winter (who throws ice at them).
Should winter stay? Wouldn't it be nice to play in snow and ice?
Should winter stay? Wouldn't it be nice to play in snow and ice?
They duke it out with a massive tug of war. Of course spring wins the argument. I walked down the hill to my car yesterday so grateful for this day where we could stop and just celebrate the turning of the year.
Such a great celebration you all had, and beautiful weather!
...and it is not SO far to come and get a kitten:)
What a fabulous celebration from beginning to end!
Reading about the cake walk brought back so many memories for me. :)
Oh wow, this looks like a very special day. I wish that I lived somewhere that celebrated the changing of the seasons in such a simple but special way.
cheers Kate
It is all so lovely! You are so lucky to have a Waldorf school locally. I'd love to send my boys to one . . . Thanks for sharing this.
so wonderful, and yes, that is some serious spring cuteness! The parent-child collective that we are a part of was supposed to have their Spring Fair today, but unfortunately it is postponed due to soggy water. They even SOMEHOW got my son to agree to playing the part of a bush in the play!
Reading about the May celebration at your daughter's school and seeing all the lovely photos was so fun. Thanks for sharing this.
Thank you for sharing this special day. What a wonderful school and community you are part of!
ok, now to go find some cake...
This is what I love about Steiner schools and why I will always slightly regret not sending my child to one. What a glorious time you had!
what a wonderful day you had !!
very familar but oooh so different than celebratings in our waldorf school.
happy may day.
Warlmy
Wow! What a wonderful celebration! Thank you for sharing your day and all of the beautiful photos. (Makes me wish I could afford to send my children to the Waldorf school in Lexington).