dancing around the daisy pole
Perhaps strange to talk about a Maypole in July but Maypoles have been used for summer celebrations throughout the years. In the old stereoscope photo below, published by a company in Meadville Pennsylvania and St. Louis Missouri, the Maypole is referred to as a Daisy Pole.
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A rather blurry scan of a stereoscopic photo, blurry because it is curved for the viewer. The title of the photo is ‘A June Carnival – Dancing Round the Daisy Pole’ 1900
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When my Aunt Jane was young, attending a small school in Nova Scotia, field days were held in June. In her book, she recalls participating in a field day:
… I was in grade 1 … we had a “field day”. My dress was made of blue and white crepe paper and, holding on to the end of a white paper streamer, I danced around a May pole. I remember my great embarrassment as a gust of wind took the streamer out of my hand and sent it high in the air to flutter in the breeze …
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The decorative Maypole we made years ago to celebrate May 1 every year. Through the years, when I needed ribbon, I occasionally snipped a length from the pole, so there are a few short ribbons!
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sketch for ‘dancing around the daisy pole’ … in some ways more lively than the final drawing
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Copyright Jane Tims 2016
nichepoetryandprose 
Dancing around a May pole (or daisy pole – never heard that name before) is so much fun! Especially when someone gets confused and then everyone else gets mixed up, too. You would think under, over, under, over would be easy enough to remember. 🙂 I love your decorative one – you’ve given me an idea for next May Day.
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Barbara Rodgers
July 11, 2016 at 3:12 pm
Hi Barbara. Kids love the little Maypole and you will always have an instant source of ribbon!
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jane tims
July 11, 2016 at 7:28 pm
Drawings are great and bring it all back to life.
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rogermoorepoet
July 11, 2016 at 12:47 pm
Hi Roger. Thanks. I love doing the drawings, helps me think.
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jane tims
July 11, 2016 at 7:27 pm