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May Day Celebration a Must for Most
By Katy Johnstone ‘10
STAFF WRITER

"All was in harmony with the joyous anticipation of the throng which breathlessly awaited the appearance of the new sovereign... The Queen herself [appeared], a vision of love and beauty, clad in the royal robes of her office. But she was not alone, for close in her wake followed maidens...scattering petals as they went...And finally, in token of their happiness at her coming, the subjects gathered about the May pole, twining in beautiful rose and green, and dancing about it, sang."

Is this tedious, old-fashioned prose an excerpt from a young adult fantasy novel? Hardly. Rather, it is an excerpt from the 1910 edition of The Briar Patch, Sweet Briar's yearbook, describing the elaborate celebration of May Day.

Nearly a century ago, this tradition was a crucial part of the Sweet Briar experience. Comparable to Founder's Day, the first few May Day celebrations featured complex maypole dances performed by girls in puffy white dresses that put Scarlett O'Hara to shame, all the while acting out roles like the May Queen and her attendants. By the 1940s, the event began to encompass many more elements, including a Saturday night dance and, in true SBC style, a horse show.

Because of Sweet Briar's obvious fondness for traditions, one might assume that May Day, too, is a well-liked event among the student body. And for the most part, this is true.

"May Day is an opportunity to spend a wonderful afternoon with my friends, celebrating a tradition that was created in 1907, with a maypole dance and a May Day court," said May Day Chairperson Melanie Higgenbotham, '09.

However, a few students have differing opinions.

"Last year's May Day was a tacky event, and the money should have been used on something less outdated," complained one student who wished to remain anonymous.

"It makes Sweet Briar seem like a finishing school--a reputation we're desperately trying to get away from," said another.

May Day was temporarily disbanded in the mid-seventies after a number of students protested, complaining that the event was frivolous and a waste of money. In 2005, Ashley Ruffead '05, researched the occasion and petitioned to have it reinstated.

One of the biggest problems the committee faces this year is money. "Since it is not considered an SBC club, it is very hard to get financial support," said Higgenbotham.

May Day usually costs between $500 and $700, depending on who the chairperson is in the current year. For the past two years, the money has come from SGA as well as private donations.

May Day originated hundreds of years ago in pagan Europe as a celebration of the season's first planting. Also known as Beltane, the festival was in reality a celebration of flagrant human fertility and sexuality. In addition to the obvious (the maypole's phallic resemblance), one popular ritual was the reenactment by a village maiden of Lady Godiva's infamous ride on horseback.

In contemporary times, May Day refers to a world-wide celebration of the economic and social advancements made by the working class.

Herein lies the dilemma: is May Day an antiquated, costly tradition that's meaning has been lost throughout the decades, or is it simply a charming, enjoyable tradition Sweet Briar students know and love?

All in all, a large majority of the campus seems very supportive of the event.

"I think May Day is a wonderful Sweet Briar tradition and a great opportunity to celebrate the end of the school year," said freshman class President Jennifer Lundy. "We should definitely have it."