Maypole

The Black Sheep celebrate Mayday in two ways: dancing the sun up, predawn on May 1^st and having a community Maypole dance (usually at high noon the Saturday before Mayday).

The dawn Mayday dance is a pre-Christian tradition that the Black Sheep keep alive. It’s not easy to get up before dawn, get into kit and get down to the Causeway to dance in the dark… but most of us manage. (Those who sleep in get the Sleepy Sheep award rather than the annual swag given out at dawn, as well as breakfast and coffee. One of the best dawn breakfasts was prepared by chef Brad and included French toast and whipping cream with whiskey!)

After dancing at the Causeway we travel up to the ferry dock to dance some more. It’s worth it to keep the tradition alive, if only to see the look on the faces of the 6am commuters!

The Maypole dance is a more recent addition to the Sheep traditions. The first pole was erected in 2004 in front of the Bowen Island Public library and included the traditional wreath descending the pole. Later versions have had fresh flowers and a wicker ram’s head. A thirteen foot high cedar pole made out of a Bowen tree was created by Stuart and is re-used annually.

Most May Day customs originated in pre-Christian agricultural rites. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, 1945, the earliest picture of the maypole was found in a drawing in a window in Betley Hall in Straffordshire built by King Edward IV.

Early mention's of the may-pole dance describes choosing a standing birch tree, attaching streamers to the branches and weaving them around and around in movements appreciative of the coming spring. Modern maypoles can be constructed from a pole either set in the ground or in a cement or wood weighted base, with streamers attached to the top.

A maypole dance: Weaving or Single Plait - Partners face and dance a grand right and left (no hands), taking care to keep a proper distance from the person in front of them going the same way. The weaving pattern descends the pole for a ways and is left there. A fast waltz works for this, with 3 steps to pass, and 3 steps in place each time.