Photos, videos and docs of Alan Mays, with the keywords: "spectators"

I Smiled Until My Face Hurt

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 16:41:21 +0000

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May Day Mayhem (Maypole on the Right)

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Thu, 01 May 2014 14:58:26 +0000

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For more information, see the full version of this photo.

May Day Mayhem (Maypole on the Left)

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Thu, 01 May 2014 14:58:28 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

For more information, see the full version of this photo.

Manning the Maypole

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Thu, 01 May 2014 14:58:20 +0000

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A real photo postcard showing a group of men dancing 'round the maypole.

May Day Mayhem

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Thu, 01 May 2014 14:58:30 +0000

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Maypoles on May Day for the ABC Group (4/24/2017).

Mouse over the image above to see close-ups of the maypole on the left and the maypole on the right.

This real photo postcard shows the organized chaos of May Day festivities at a playground or schoolyard--location and date unknown, unfortunately--where two groups of students are dancing around two maypoles as other students and adults view the proceedings.

Could this be a maypole dance competition between two classes or schools? Are the two groups racing to see who will be the first to finish weaving their ribbons around their maypole?

It's not clear whether this is a competition, but it's interesting to note that older boys are holding up each maypole while girls wearing dark-colored skirts dance around one of them and girls in light-colored skirts dance around the other. Also, many of the boys standing in the background beyond the maypoles are wearing shirts emblazoned with the letter E, so I suppose it's possible that the clothes are athletic uniforms reflecting different classes or schools.

In any case, even if we can't tell exactly what's going on, the image provides an intriguing glimpse at a May Day celebration from days gone by.