May Garlands

Standing left to right: Ruby Annis, Ella Rawlings, Bertha Cade, Phyllis Claridge

Seated in front: Doris Cade (now Doris Gamblen), Elsie Annis

Of May-day in 1890s, CLFD writes:

In Dean there were no May Revels as in some villages, except for the girls who went "May Singing". It is recorded in the log that they were given leave from School.

The favourite song in Dean was:

"The first of May, my dear, I say, before your door I stand:

It's nothing but a sprout but it's well budded out By the work of our own Lord's hand

And I have a purse, a pretty little purse all tied with silken string,

and all it wants is a little sliver piece to line it well within.

Now take the Bible in your hand and read a chapter through

And when the Day of Judgement comes The Lord will think of you.

The song is done, I must be gone, no longer can I stay

God bless you all, both great and small I wish you a merry merry May".

Very rarely was a sprig of May [hawthorn] opened by the first of the month. Usually a willow woven washing basket was filled with moss in which flowers and dolls were arranged, two cross willow wands were fastened over it and garlanded with flowers, often a doll, the May Queen, hang from the centre but some times, the smallest child in the group wore a white veil, often a lace curtain, a carried a flower-decked sceptre as the May Queen. The baskets, having handles at each end were very easily carried from door to door.

"Ne'er cast a clout till May be out" - whether this referred to the May in bloom or the ending of the month no one quite knows.

Dean & Shelton WI Scrapbook

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