Garlands of Green
Garlands of Green
Greenery was not only collected for house decoration, it was also gathered by primary school children to make garlands. In many English villages children would parade with garlands of flowers, sometimes fastened to sticks or in the shape of a cross, or fixed to hoops. This was done in the hope of collecting money. Sometimes this was known as May dolling because often placed in the centre of the garland was a small doll. Variously described as “Virgin Mary,” “Flora,” and the “May Queen,” the doll might be in the garland itself or sometimes in a decorated box covered with greenery. Sometimes there was a garland song begging for the pennies and householders were asked if they wished to see the May Doll of Queen. If they did, then the doll would be uncovered and the bearer would expect a coin or a gift.
The actual garlands still vary a great deal in shape and size: from simple posies tied to long wands or flower chains wreathed around staves to very elaborate double or treble hoops covered with greenery and flowers. There are also reports of very tall pyramids of greenery. In 18th century Lincolnshire, willow wands were decorated completely in cowslips and known as ‘May Gads.’ In Northumberland children would carry cushions of greenery with flowers peeping through.
There are still Garland ceremonies today. At Charlton-on-Otmoor, Oxfordshire, a large wooden cross covered with yew and box leaves stands above the rood screen in the church. On May Day this is taken down and redecorated with fresh greenery and flowers and the children carry small decorated crosses around the village and bring them to a special service. Also in Oxfordshire at Bampton, the Spring Bank Holiday marks the beginning of the traditional Morris Dance season. In the morning children bring out a selection of garlands which are judged in a competition at lunch time. May Dolls are sometimes used in these.
On 13 May children carry two elaborate garlands of flowers around the quiet village of Abbotsbury in Dorset requesting gifts of money from householders. One garland is decorated with wild flowers and the other from cultivated garden blooms. In former times Garland day marked the beginning of the fishing season and each boat had its own garland which, having been blessed, was put on the bow of the boat and taken out to sea. Each garland was cast into the waves as a safeguard for the lives of the fishermen. The garlands are now laid at the foot of the war memorial at the end of the day.
In 1954 an overzealous policeman, who had only just moved to the district, stopped the children and confiscated their money as ‘they were breaking the law by begging.’ The following day saw an even bigger procession of older villagers who complained to the Chief constable about the attempt to destroy their age old tradition. You can still see the Garlands being carried on 13th May each year.
