On Sunday, May 1st from 1:00-5:00 pm join us as we “bring in the May” with our May Day Fete on the grounds of the 1897 Poe House. Guests can observe and participate in the maypole dance, create a floral crown or basket, and learn May Day songs and customs. We will also crown our own Queen of the May! Cookies and lemonade will be served. Admission is FREE!
The beauty of spring has been celebrated since ancient times. The most well-known version of May Day began in the English countryside before the Middle Ages. On May 1st, children would rise early and gather wildflowers to make garlands and fill baskets. They would then secretly deliver the baskets to friends and neighbors. Entire villages would host celebrations and children would gather around a maypole, usually a large birch branch erected on the common green to which colorful ribbons had been attached. Each child would hold a ribbon and dance around the pole creating changing, colorful patterns. The “Queen of the May” would be crowned with flowers.
For information about the Museum of the Cape Fear, visit our website at http://museumofthecapefear.ncdcr.gov or call (910) 486-1330. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!