Tradition lives on with annual maypole event

Photo Neil Cross Annual May Day event at Middleforth CE Primary School, Penwortham Previous Queens

Youngsters at Middleforth CE Primary look forward to bring history to life each year as they keep up one of the country’s oldest traditions.

Pupils have been dancing around the maypole and weaving the ribbons to mark the age-old May Day festival.

Every year the year two pupils at the Hill Road South school vote for and crown their May Queen at two special celebrations.

Photo Neil Cross
Annual May Day event at Middleforth CE Primary School, Penwortham — Photo Neil Cross Annual May Day event at Middleforth CE Primary School, Penwortham

This colourful event has been a feature of the school calendar for decades.

The whole school gets involved, with the Year Two girls usually selecting the queen.

Mums, and dads and nearby residents are also invited to attend the celebrations.

The girls and boys dress up for the occasion, which involves a formal crowning ceremony.

All previous queens donned their celebrations dresses and joined the retinue as last year’s May Queen Florence Worden handed over her crown to Lily–Mai Beetham who was attended by Rahimah Amla, and Sophie Scholes.

The May Prince this year is Arthur Dorning.

Reception class star Dilan Chandarana, five, was chosen to be the crown bearer.

The earliest May Day celebrations appeared in pre-Christian times, with the Floralia, festival of the Goddess Flora, the Roman goddess of lowers.

The Pagan festival of Beltane, is on the eve of May Day and also marks the moving of cattle up to the summer pastures.