Figure 1.--This postcard back portrait is a May Queen's court. It was held at the St. John Schoo. We are not sure id this is an Anglican or Catholic School. The photogrph is indated. We suspect it was taken in the 1920s. The back of the card referes to the Maid of Honour who was 12-year old Edma Beckerdike. The only girl who was 12 years old here is the girl in the center who we might describe as the May Queen. The studio name is impressed at lower right, but difficult to make out.

May Queens were chosen throughout the Brutish Ilse and in the Dominions and were an important part of the traditional May Day holiday. We once saw May polls in America, but we are less certain about May Queens. May Day celebrations are of very early origins dating to ancient times, perhaps even prehistory. The May Queen is of less certain history, but there is documented evidence dating the Medieval period. They seem very common in the first half of the 20th century. Almost all of the photographs we have found come from this period. We have found very few school or any other May Day celebration images in the second half of the 20th century. There are quite a number of areas that keep the tradition alive and are very proud of continuing the tradition. Some date back over a century of continuous observation. The tradition itself is far more ancient, but most localities do not have a documented record of continuous observation. May Queens are no longer ubiquitous as they once were. Traditionally, the fairest maiden of the village was chosen queen of the May. Early celebrations had nothing to do with schools. This was a tradition that predated public schools. It was a village event. Sometimes a May king was also chosen. There might be a royal court. These two led the village dancers and ruled over the festivities. In Elizabethan times, the king and queen might be called Robin Hood and Maid Marian. The modern May Queen rides or walks at the front of a parade for May Day celebrations. She wears a white gown to symbolize purity and usually some kind of tiara or crown. In some cases there was a royal court. Her primary function is to launch the various May Day celebration events. She is generally crowned with flowers and must make a speech before the dancing begins. There are a variety of traditions of uncertain origins. One folk tradition has a kind of a dark account. The May Queen was put to death at the end of the festivities, perhaps an ancient Celtic legend. The most important event bis commonly seen as dancing around the May Pol which the children seem to enjoy.

Locations

May Queens were chosen throughout the Brutish Ilse and in the Dominions and were an important part of the traditional May Day holiday. We see May polls in America, but we are less certain about May Queens. May Day celebrations are of very early origins dating to ancient times, perhaps even prehistory.

Chronology

The May Queen is of less certain history than May Day celebrations, in geneal. There semm to be Ronam origins. The May Queen is Flora, the Roman goddess of the flowers. This is of course made her the Sping/d ertility godness. Titus Tatius (according to Roman tradition, the Sabine king who ruled with Romulus). He is credited with introducing her cult to Rome. Her temple was located the Circus Maximus. Her festival, called the Floralia, was instituted (238 BC). Spring was obviously her season. Flora was depicted by the Romans dresses in light spring clothing, holding bouquets of flowers or crowned with blossoms. Such godesses were common in ancient religions which ,made it an easy fit with the Celts and cGermans (Anglo-Saxons). In socities based on agriculture such traditions were of obvious imkprtance. Many popular Roman pagan festivals continued into the Christain era. May Fairs and May Day Festivals is very long, not only in England, but throughout Europe. The tradition of chosing a village maiden to represent the queen seems to be of more recent origin. [Frazer] There is documnted evidence of May Queens dating the Medieval period. They seem very common in the first half of the 20th century. Almost all of the photographs we have found come from this period. We have found very few school or any other May Day celebration images in the second half of the 20th century. There are quite a number of areas that keep the tradition alive and are very proud of continuing the tradition. Some date back over a century of continuous observation. The tradition itself is far more ancient, but most localities do not have a documented record of continuous observation. May Queens are no longer ubiquitous as they once were.

Selection

Traditionally, the fairest maiden of the village was chosen queen of the May.

Nature

Early celebrations had nothing to do with schools. This was a tradition that predated public schools. It was a village event.

Participants

The most important bprytivipsnt bis oibviously the NMay Queen, but there could alsdo be a May King chosen. There could alsp be a royal court. This could create roles for quite a number of children These two led the village dancers and ruled over the festivities. In Elizabethan times, the king and queen might be called Robin Hood and Maid Marian.

Functions

The modern May Queen rides or walks at the front of a parade for May Day celebrations. She wears a white gown to symbolize purity and usually some kind of tiara or crown. In some cases there was a royal court. Her primary function is to launch the various May Day celebration events. She is generally crowned with flowers and must make a speech before the dancing begins. The most important event is commonly seen as dancing around the May Poll which the children seem to enjoy.

Traditions

There are a variety of traditions of uncertain origins. One folk tradition has a kind of a dark account. The May Queen was put to death at the end of the festivities, perhaps an ancient Celtic legend.

Sources

Frazer, James George Frazer. The Golden Bough Ch X is "Relics of Tree Worship in Modern Europe".

Created: 10:02 PM 4/2/2018
Last updated: 1:24 PM 1/12/2023