Other Things I learned in Elementary School

Besides what the Name ‘California’ and ‘Oregon’ mean.

The May Pole, I was told that it was a celebration on the first day of May and was basically a rite of Spring.

But I wasn’t told that the ‘May Pole’ was a large phallic symbol and signaled the ‘correct time’ for a woman to get pregnant. The reason was to have the baby born in the middle of the next winter so the woman would be ready and ok to get back to work for the next spring’s planting time.

L’il Abner had it right after all in his ‘Sadie Hawkins Day’, an American folk event, however, this day had reality from all over Europe in the ‘May Pole’ celebrations.

Comments: 12

Anita D. Oct 8, 2009, 4:44am UTC

So some rollicking good fun was had by all.

Kerrell Goolsby Nov 3, 2009, 5:39pm UTC

Now that was funny!

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Kushal Poddar Oct 8, 2009, 7:44am UTC

There are symbols and there are the symbols. It is great to find them out.

little songs of dawn

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Rachel W. Oct 8, 2009, 9:41am UTC

Thanks for the info.

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J. Reid Oct 8, 2009, 10:09am UTC

That makes so much sense yet, hardly something which would be celebrated today from that perspective. Truth sheds light on knowledge and this is one event which I saw no no glee in as a child the ritual was silly. Thanks for the history of the May pole.

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Barbara H. Oct 8, 2009, 12:27pm UTC

I remember our high school having a May Pole Dance. Somebody attached crepe paper streamers of all colors from the top of a pole and girls in a circle each took an end andd by the time they had all circled around the pole the paper streamers were interwoven to make a pretty sight but I have no memory of what that was all about. Seemed quite silly.
I guess it was a celebration of Spring now that you mention it.
Now Sadie Hawkins Day is another story I asked my husband to marry me on that day and he said: "Well, sure, now I don't have to ask you. Does this mean your giving ME a ring?" No he had to give ME the ring that part hadn't changed. Ha!Ha!

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