May is usually a lovely time of year, and
the May Day celebrations are a wonderful
tradition which fortunately still carry on to
this day.

I grew up in a Northamptonshire village
where we had our May Day in the centre
of the village, with the May Queen and her
attendants taking pride of place on the stone
Market Cross. They sat on cushions as the
stonework was notoriously cold even in
May; I’m not sure if that still continues as I
think the Queen was actually perched quite
high up!

We all got dressed up in our best party
outfi ts - in those days pretty fl oral dresses
for the girls, smart shirts and trousers for the
boys - and did our Maypole dancing.
This occasionally went wrong when
somebody ducked under instead of going
over the neighbouring ribbon or got
completely out of step with everybody else,
but usually we got it right and made the
tightly plaited colourful pattern as well as the
‘spider’s web’ design.

The boys dressed up as Morris Men and
did their dance with sticks, heartily bashing
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each other when they could while the bells
on their legs jingled.

The younger children partook in the country
dancing and skipped happily through the
crowds of parents, grandparents, friends
and fellow villagers who clapped in time to
the music.

Such happy memories, and I’m glad that at
my daughter’s school the tradition continues
with a King and Queen, attendants and
various dances.

Heading into June, it was always referred
to as ‘fl aming June’, but from memory it’s
sometimes a little hit and miss weather
wise. However, I’m sure people of a similar
age to me remember the very hot summer
of 1976 and the drought. I remember huge
cracks opening up in the garden where the
ground was parched.

I wonder what this summer is going to be
like? One thing I can guarantee is I shall
be partaking in my favourite summer drink -
Pimm’s o’clock anyone?!

Thanks for reading, please visit my blog and
Northants Telegraph column too. Hx

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Our corner of Northamptonshire