Raising the Maypole, The Green, Slingsby, 1985.

IMPROVED QUALITY from digital remastering from analogue tape in March 2024. Replaced the previous video here which had had over 1300 views. Bank Holiday; so early morning was quiet. Only the bird-song broke the silence at The Green. But, there was to be an extra-special event here. A maypole lay alone on trestles on the green, awaiting its elevation. Not only would there be traditional May Day dancing but also the rare raising of a fresh maypole. Planning of a fete for the event had been careful and meticulous. The sounds of good natured banter grew as participants gravitated to The Green eager to contribute their time and services to get everything into place. From mid-morning, well stocked stalls, competitions, fast food carts and side shows (incl. a coconut shy and fancy dress competition) were appearing in their places. Maypole dancers (youngster volunteers from around the area) had diligently trained for some weeks earlier, using a much smaller portable maypole. Those living around The Green had become familiar with the refrains of the accordion music for the various dances as the training was taking place. Depending on the dance, the ribbons wind, plait or web around the pole. May Day celebrations had been a past tradition in Slingsby. There had been other tall maypoles here. The then most recent had been destroyed by a storm. The Castle Howard Estate offered to donate a tree for making into a replacement maypole. Slingsby has long had associations with Castle Howard Estate. A suitably shaped tall straight tree was selected and its timber trunk seasoned. A week or two before the raising of the new pole, it was placed on trestles at The Green, so that it could be painted. Video records how, on the May Day, a deep elongated hole was dug using a mechanical digger for the main shaping of a hole to accommodate a sturdy specially made timber-framed fulcrum. You will see that there was still a lot of energetic spadework to do to keep things tidy while getting the fulcrum and the maypole exactly into place. The fulcrum hinged the long pole during its raising by crane from near horizontal to vertical. The operation was remarkably smooth. With the pole then standing proudly, the excavated soil was returned to the hole and the retained surface turves were put back into place. The excavated soil had been placed on covers which were now removed. The ground around the pole was clean for dancing with barely any evidence of recent disturbance. It was as if this same pole had been there for years. While the ground around "The Big One" was being made good, the dancers had entertained the assembled throng using the smaller portable maypole to dance around. When the dancers were resting and taking refreshment, a band played on the hard standing outside the cottages on The Green. The assembled crowd was still swelling. The many who had planned to come were joined by chance passing visitors who had unexpectedly dropped on the event and stayed as long as their itineraries permitted. The raising of the maypole and its accompanying fete had in itself already been a spectacular event. But now, with ribbons in place on The Big One, it was time for the crescendo, the fruition of all the foregoing effort. With their creditable performances, the young dancers proved that the whole project had been more than worthwhile. The way that the dancers weave in and out of one another varies with the dance, so that the patterns of the ribbons vary either on the pole or in an outward spider web pattern. The way that the dancers weave in and out of one another varies with the dance, so that the patterns of the ribbons vary either on the pole or in an outward spider web pattern Before the proceedings were terminated, some enthusiastic adults wanted to show that it was not only the youngsters who could demonstrate their energetic prowess around a maypole. But who were the better? Adults or youngsters? See what you think. By the time the proceedings were over, it was starting to get quite cold. The weather cock pointed accusingly at the cold North West. Nature. Nature reminded us, "That's it!" Having come together to continue tradition and celebrate village life, people were returning home to the warm, many perhaps mulling over the fun of the day. The Green was quiet once again. The maypole stood alone dominating The Green, a proud icon and a reminder of a great day.