[IMG]http:www.classicalvalues.com/Maypole.jpg[/IMG]Does anyone

I entered the thread thinking it would be something to do with me

Haha, nah I don't I know a few people who do the whole 'run around a pole' thing but if I am honest I don't really know what it's all about! :shy:

_Mayday_

 

Actually, in the US this is Law Day.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_Day,_U.S.A.

In order to celebrate, we make law trees out of used legal documents and place little lawyers and policemen under the tree. Houses are gleefully adorned in flashing red lights, and sirens can be heard singing throughout the countryside. In the morning, children leap out of bed and rush to the law tree to find pens and briefs left by Legalclause.

 

I've never actually known what May Day is all about anyway. I mean, I know it's May 1, and people wrap ribbons around poles, but I haven't a clue why they do it or why the day is special to anyone.

 

If only it were that simple!

 

I thought today was Illegal Immigrant Day in the U.S.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g-yeeu4NtQOy4zpPnNXvBCIgZuVQD90CVS5O3 [Broken]

 

My friend actually researched maypoles for a history paper. Basically, it's a pagan fertility rite ("spring is here: let's make babies to encourage the Field Gods" sort of thing) that was happily coopted by all sorts of people who wouldn't identify themselves as pagan.
The source of ribbons is highly disputed, and a fairly recent addition (considering that this May Day thing was around in Roman times).

 

May day was the time Wally Purgis the wizard came calling, and gave young chaps a hard time.

 

Originally celebrated on February 29, May Day denoted a day which may or may not occur. It was moved to it's current location so it could be nearly halfway between an equinox and an aquaduct. It is well known that during the First World War, English pilots would call out May Day on their way to a jaunty, if fiery death only suffer an unwelcome rescue by confused French pilots who thought they were asking for help. Things might have remained in this chaotic state if not for the desire of the Communist-speaking world to commemorate the Haymarket affair in which a Maypole dance got way out of hand. Happy holidays everyone.

 

May 4th is International Tuba Day

 

Being from the aviation community, I just don't like that word.

 

I think it is like Cinco de Mayo....expect more along the lines of "Uno de Mayo"


Seriously though, I also don't understand this holiday.

 

Well, Cinco de Mayo at least involves drinking a lot of beer, so that makes sense. (Who decided to have Cinco de Mayo on a Monday though? Can't we have Tres de Mayo this year? I think it should just be the first Saturday in May...or even the first Friday...Dos de Mayo has a nice sound to it.)

 

Cinco de Mayo is halfway between the equinox and summer solstice, rather than just near it.

Personally, I'd be disappointed to find there was a reason for the May Day. Dancing around a pole with ribbons for no good reason just sounds a lot more fun than having some kind of ancient tradition or symbolism attached to it.

 

:rofl:

(Is there anything stopping BobG from doing this randomly on other days of the year for no reason)

 

Yeah. The random part doesn't work. You need an even number of people for a maypole. If I'm the only person that shows up, then I'm odd.