maypole celebration

Our family was invited this afternoon to join a few other local families in a maypole celebration. Although this celebration usually occurs on or around May Day, many of us were busy that weekend and then Mother's Day came so we chose to celebrate this weekend which came with perfectly splendid weather so I think that was a good choice.

We began the celebration by gathering many different varieties of flowers.

With the gathered flowers, a wreath making station was set up including some wild vines to hold the flowers.

The flowers wreaths which emerged under the children's hands were amazing. So full of spring's wild color!

Once everyone who wanted to had made their wreath,

down to our smallest group members,

the maypole dancing commenced.

We are so fortunate to have professional musicians in our small group, and they graciously blessed us with festive music during the maypole dance.

Once the maypole had been wrapped this way and that,

we tried some fancy wrapping...which didn't work out so well. It was such a fantastic experience though. I saw smiles on every face from the babies to the preschoolers to the upper elementary aged to the mamas and papas.

After we had sufficiently danced our way around the maypole, the kids gave the zipline a workout.

What an afternoon! After a few hours, it was clear the kids had played out nearly every last ounce of energy.

And then some!

I hope we'll get to do this again in the future. I can't say enough good things about how much fun it's been to find a small group with whom to celebrate these seasonal festivals!