Running ’round the maypole: Ancient celebration draws crowd, marks the beginning of summer

Children and adults alike reach out to touch the Padstow ‘Obby ‘Oss for good luck, at the May Day celebration on Sunday. Tabitha Johnston
SHEPHERDSTOWN — The Green Man and May Queen greeted community members, as they followed a pair of bagpipers onto the side lawn of McMurran Hall, where a maypole had been erected earlier in the day on Sunday morning.
The town’s annual joint May Day and Arbor Day celebration itself kicked off at noon, with a healthy turnout, in spite of rain throughout the morning.
“Can you believe we have been doing this for 30 years? And what a wonderful 30 years it has been!” said Laura First, as she emceed the celebration. “This continues to happen every year because of you!”
First then introduced each new performance in the May Day celebration, from the dance of the Ladies in White around the maypole to the entrance of the May Day court to the traditional dance of the Hicks with Sticks Border Morris around the maypole. Out of all of the parts of the celebration, one of the most anticipated was the walk of the Padstow ‘Obby ‘Oss around the crowd.
“You want your garden to grow or to get pregnant or your children to obey everything you say? You’re about to get the chance to touch the Padstow” First said of the purported good luck given to those who touch the symbol of fertility from Celtic Beltane celebrations. “This Padstow is a special Padstow, because it is created just like the Padstow in England! That Padstow is so old, that no one knows where it came from.”

Hicks with Sticks Border Morris walks across McMurran Hall’s lawn, after completing a dance around the maypole on Sunday afternoon. Tabitha Johnston
Shepherdstown May Day founder Joanie Blanton said she was particularly pleased with the fact that the rain ended before the celebration began, which was not the case over the last two years, making it possible for a local music and dance troupe, Whirligig, to perform around the maypole.
“They couldn’t do the music with their medieval dance in the last two years, because they couldn’t risk having their instruments injured by the rain,” Blanton said. “It was wonderful to be able to have some new things this year!”
As to the reason for celebration making it to its 30th anniversary this year, Blanton said it was all thanks to the faithfulness of volunteers and the way the community continues to embrace it every year.
“The town loves May Day and people know to look for it, now,” Blanton said, mentioning that younger volunteers are needed to ensure the holiday lives on for many years to come. “It’s very much a community event and participatory.”
During the Corporation of Shepherdstown’s Arbor Day commemoration in the middle of the May Day celebration, Mayor Jim Auxer read a poem about trees written by Shepherdstown resident Wendy Maddox, followed by a proclamation from the Corporation of Shepherdstown regarding its 18th annual Arbor Day commemoration. Beside Auxer stood a bald cypress tree, which will be planted in town to maintain its Tree City USA designation and complete its commemoration of Arbor Day.

The Green Man and the May Queen greet community members at the May Day celebration on McMurran Hall’s lawn on Sunday. Tabitha Johnston
Standing beside Auxer at the ceremony was Public Works Director Frank Welch, who turns in the paper work every year to maintain Shepherdstown’s Tree City USA designation. While Welch said he is set to retire sometime in the near future, as his replacement has been selected, he hopes to see the town remain a Tree City USA after he leaves Public Works — even if he has to step in and lend a hand to make sure it happens.
“I’ve been here for 37 years and actually had taken this on myself 18 years ago,” Welch said. “We try hard here in Shepherdstown to promote trees and do the right thing.”
As to the combination of Shepherdstown’s May Day and Arbor Day celebrations, Auxer said it has proven to be a natural fit.
“The specialness of Shepherdstown comes out on May Day. This is part of who we are!” Auxer said. “Nobody else is having May Day celebrations. It’s a wonderful thing — it brings people of all ages together and lightens their moods.”
- Children and adults alike reach out to touch the Padstow ‘Obby ‘Oss for good luck, at the May Day celebration on Sunday. Tabitha Johnston
- Whirligig, a music and dance troupe, performs at the May Day celebration on McMurran Hall’s lawn on Sunday. Tabitha Johnston
- During Sunday’s May Day celebration, Rachel Meads, Public Works Director Frank Welch and Corporation of Shepherdstown Administrator Stephanie Grove hold up the Tree City USA flag, while Mayor Jim Auxer stands by the bald cypress tree that will be planted in town in commemoration of Arbor Day. Tabitha Johnston
- Hicks with Sticks Border Morris walks across McMurran Hall’s lawn, after completing a dance around the maypole on Sunday afternoon. Tabitha Johnston
- The Green Man and the May Queen greet community members at the May Day celebration on McMurran Hall’s lawn on Sunday. Tabitha Johnston

Whirligig, a music and dance troupe, performs at the May Day celebration on McMurran Hall's lawn on Sunday. Tabitha Johnston

During Sunday's May Day celebration, Rachel Meads, Public Works Director Frank Welch and Corporation of Shepherdstown Administrator Stephanie Grove hold up the Tree City USA flag, while Mayor Jim Auxer stands by the bald cypress tree that will be planted in town in commemoration of Arbor Day. Tabitha Johnston