Happy May Day everyone!

[ghostsofgiants]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Workers%27_Day

[Tuesday Afternoon]

1. Happy May Day --

http://www.youtube.com/v/4ctK4tswNEs&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6

May Pole Dancing at Winterborne Stickland Fete 2006

The most well known symbol of May Day (1st May) is the maypole. The custom of dancing around the maypole is an ancient fertility rite, which is still performed today on village greens and at spring fetes.

The origins of the maypole hark back to ancient times when tree spirits were worshiped and indeed the first maypoles were tall slender trees, usually birch, which had their branches lopped off, leaving just a few at the top to be adorned with garlands and blossom: a far cry from the more elaborate designs of today.

The maypole itself is a phallic symbol representing the planting of the god's phallus into the mother earth's womb, there by illustrating the bringing forth of new life. In addition some maypoles are painted with red and white spiral stripes in much the same way as a barber's pole and this too has sexual meaning: the red representing the female menstrual blood and the white the male semen. The sexual symbolism of the maypole and all the immoral revelry that went along with it led the Puritans to out-law the maypole custom in 1644. However, this prohibition was soon repealed after the restoration of Charles II in 1660. Many towns and parishes erected permanent maypoles in celebration, some boasting 80 or 90 feet! These permanent poles were left to stand throughout the year but only decorated and danced around on May Day.

Dancing around the maypole was once a very merry and frivolous affair, yet today's maypole dancing with its colourful ribbons is a relatively modern dance, only dating back to the nineteenth century. However, this new adaptation is now accepted as a very important aspect of the maypole dance. By taking two ribbons and weaving them together the dancers make a new element, thus two makes three representing the sexual union and the offspring.

Discover more Dorset traditions in the book 'Dark Dorset Calendar Customs', by Robert Newland, now available at Amazon.co.uk. Visit the Dark Dorset website, http://www.darkdorset.co.uk or blog http://darkdorset.blogspot.com
and open the door to a world of fascinating folklore and legends.

[ghostsofgiants]

Slightly different conception of May Day than I was going for.

:P

[Tuesday Afternoon]

4. Yeah...I just had to --

;)

you know...by any means necessary

[surrealAmerican]

10. It's not that hard to reconcile the two.

Protesting workers could dance as they unite around beribboned poles.

[NightWatcher]

2. Happy May Day

[ghostsofgiants]

6. Oh, that first one is awesome!

[MorningGlow]

3. And a Blessed Beltane to you

Let's all get nekkid and dance around a giant phallus--what say? :hi:

[hobbit709]

5. Hooray, hooray, it's the first of May

Outdoor fucking begins today!

[BurtWorm]

7. Workers of the world unite, tovarish.

:patriot:

[Orsino]

8. And you know what that means...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDDeWROvi8s

Celebrate spring!

[no name no slogan]

9. Happy May Day, ya commie

:toast: :hi:

[ghostsofgiants]

12. Woo!

My friend's anarcho-punk band is having a May Day show tonight, I am excited.

http://radio3.cbc.ca/bands/The-Class-War-Kids

(Check out "Sick To Death", "Strike Back", and "No Shelter" especially.)

[no name no slogan]

13. Sweet!

The name alone is worth the price of admission! I'll have to check those cats out. Sounds pretty cool!

[ghostsofgiants]

15. They're definitely one of my favourite local bands.

I once sang "White Riot" for them at a show, haha. Good times. (Putting me behind a microphone is usually a horrible idea. :P)

[fizzgig]

14. i like!

have fun at the show

[Deja Q]

11. May Day rules!!!!!!!

http://image.wetpaint.com/image/1/6_lniKQl-3OXsPn_4WZgNw5415