Post by Dave on May 6, 2013 15:51:16 GMT
Denbury May Day 6th May 2013
For me there could be no more a perfect place to live, than here in Torbay. So many good beaches and hidden coves so close by and if you fancy a change Dartmoor with all its roguishness is only a short drive away. What makes this place even more special is that you can leave home, turn a few corners and be in the open countryside to discover so many wonderful little villages. While here in the Bay there are always events taking place mostly through the summer months, so many villages hold their own annual events that are always well supported.
I think I have been to most of them over the years and have always enjoyed the day out, some of the fetes etc that do get old, have been done so for many hundreds of years. I love the fact that even in these villages that I’m sure has seen a good number of what villages might call outsiders move in, these fetes are kept very much alive. In fact it’s so often the case those so called outsiders are the very ones who give up so much of their own free time, to get the event on in the first place.
The first day of the month of May is known as May Day. It is the time of year when warmer weather begins and flowers and trees start to blossom. It is also said to be a time of love and romance. It is when people celebrate the coming of summer with lots of different customs that are expressions of joy and hope after a long winter.
Traditional English May Day celebrations include Morris dancing, crowning a May Queen and dancing around a Maypole. Many May Day traditions and celebrations have now been moved to the new May Day holiday (from 1978) on the first Monday of the month as is the case as far as Denbury’s May Day is concerned. I’m not sure how many years ago it was when I last went to the Denbury May Day Fayre, but I have been looking forward to going to it again all weekend.
Lyn and I got there about and hour before the official opening of the fayre, for me if felt like I had been put into a time machine and taken back to the first one I went too. Everything was just the same; all the stalls in the same place and even the afternoon events were a carbon copy. We walked around for a while and started to wish we had left home a bit latter as the 12.30pm opening seemed ages away.
Then the time came and the Teign Valley Stompers led the parade onto the green. Right behind them was a car carrying this years May Queen and King, I bet those two kids thought it was a great honour to be chosen and they will sure have some photos to show their own grandchildren one day. Behind the car were many of the school children all dressed in fancy dress to be judged later.
Once the King and Queen were crowned by this years Miss Torbay the fancy dress competition took place and I would have chosen the same winners the judges chose. Once that was over Lyn and I walked to beside the village pub where some lady Morris Dancing was taking place. I’m not sure what Lyn made of it all, but it did bring a smile to her face, but she declined my offer to ask afterwards if we could join their group.
It was now time to go back onto the green to watch the maypole dancing. Once on May Day, people used to cut down young trees and stick them in the ground in the village to mark the arrival of summer. People danced around the tree poles in celebration of the end of winter and the start of the fine weather that would allow planting to begin. Maypoles were once common all over England and were kept from one year to the next. Schools would practice skipping round the pole for weeks before the final show on the village greens. These days’ maypoles have only survived in a few villages.
Here is an Interesting Fact
The tallest maypole is said to have been erected in London on the Strand in 1661; it stood over 143 feet high. It was felled in 1717, when it was used by Isaac Newton to support Huygen's new reflecting telescope.
Feeling a bit hunger we decided to get a burger from the barbeque stall, but wished we hadn’t as it was so burnt., Lyn just covered hers in tomato sauce to try and mask the burning taste. Only thing for it was to buy a nice lovely whippy 99 ice-cream, we love them so much its one of our Sunday treats all the year round.
Then came the family dog show and some magic by which time after our long day out up in Weston Super Mare yesterday, we were feeling a bit worn out and decided to head for home.
Another lovely and enjoyable day out to always remember, not sure what happened to the weather mind you. Today was meant to be the hottest day of the year so far, but it was a far nicer and warmer day on Sunday.
