Once the ritual finally got started, the senior class girls were presented to the spectators. The girls were dressed in beautiful pastel gowns and adorned with fresh flowers. After being introduced individually, they lined up on the lawn, looking like a huge all-female wedding party in search of many groomsmen. The May Queen's retinue joined the presentation and then, at last, the sacrificial virgin appeared, dressed all in white and trailed by two train bearers. The maiden goddess haughtily marched to center stage, was crowned by her Maid of Honor, and then the whole May Court strolled around the lawn to be worshiped by the adoring crowd. They were followed by the entire senior class and then everyone took their seats to enjoy the May Day Pageant.
Several musical numbers followed and there was much dancing and merriment. Selections included songs from Mary Poppins, Chicago, The Sound of Music, and Annie. This was all building up to the traditional Maypole Dance, which is performed accompanied by a song about "shagging in the woods," as Emmie puts it. The sophomore girls gathered around three maypoles, collected the attached ribbons and they all became dancers, frolicking around the phalli, weaving their magick for fertility and abundance. The event concluded with the singing of the school Alma Mater, and then everyone gathered at a reception on the patio.
And for those of you who aren't from around here, no, I'm not kidding and no, I'm not making any of this up. Really. You can see a photo of the whole pastel-clad group below (click on the image to see a full-sized version!).
UPDATE: The Chattanoogan has some photos of the event.
5 comments:
I have heard of the festivities in the past, and even believed it all to be true, but every time I hear about it, I am still bewildered. those crazy rich folk.
hey i randomly found this and i go to gps and dont worry most people here think its crazy too we were talking about it in class the other day.. how we all think its creepy and superficial but then we were asked if we were going to participate as seniors and all of us said yes we were most likely going to
[...] Happy Friday, Mayday, Beltaine and International Workers’ Day, everyone! The creatures are, as always, boarding the ark all weekend. Have a great one (of you haven’t read it yet, check out my 2005 post about one of Chattanooga’s most bizarre May Day traditions)! [...]
When I went to Wooster ( I graduated in 1951), We had a May Day celebration, with a May Day Queen and her court and the May pole dance. I was able to dance the May pole one year. We all took it very seriously. There was a lot of competition about who was to be chosen the May Day Qeen. By the time J.O. got there, all the sexist practices had been eliminated.
In 2009, the tradition is taken very seriously at GPS. The Queen is chosen by a senior class vote and the gowns may be planned out months in advance. In 2009!!! Wow.
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