photo by Marc Wilson
M ay D ay traditions, customs show change
b y Frank Scheu
Have you ever thought about
the origins of May Day? When
did it start, by whom, and why?
The first May Day was in the
year 1920. The school librarian
Miss Doris Mace, was responsi
ble for introducing the May Day
traditions to West Linn High
School. She, as well as others in
the teaching staff, had par
ticipated in May Day celebrations
in college and decided to pass on
this exerience to our high school.
West Linn Union High School
was still under construction in
the May of 1920. So the
ceremony took place outdoors
on the campus of what we now
know as Willamette Grade
School. (Then Willamette was
both high school and grade
school combined.)
Queen Clara Costly was
escorted by student body presi
dent Earl Mootry. There were
only two princesses and Clara’s
7-year-old brother carried her
train.
There were less than 100 peo
ple attending the ceremony, in
cluding high school and grade
school student bodies. They
were entertained by various
sporting
events,
pl ays,
folkdances (including the May
Pole dance), an art show, and
singing by the school Glee Club.
There was virtually no budget
for the entire program. There
was no stageset or elaborate
backdrop for the queen as in
present May Day celebrations.
Even the crown was a simple af
fair made of cardboard with gold
paint.
May Day has evolved much
since the first one 63 years ago.
This year there will be seven
princesses, a maid of honor, a
queen, a budget of $600, and
two different ceremonies in both
the evening and afternoon (the
afternoon alone having an
estimated attendance of 1,200
people) and a Queen’s Ball.
Marci Gano, this year’s May
Day program supervisor, says,
“ There has never been a definite
set of guidelines around May
Day. It seems to evolve year to
year
because
each
year
something new is added to it or
taken away.”
As far as where May Day is
headed in the future, one can
only guess. May Day’s financial
director, Judy Waterbury, feels
that “ it is very difficult to predict
where it is headed; it has chang
ed so much in the past I could
see there
eventually being
princes and maybe a king. They
could be elected by the student
body, much like the princesses
are.”
“ Whatever happens, May Day
is sure to be a long-lived tradition
at West Linn if the enthusiasm of
Waterbury,
myself
the
art
department, the May Day court,
and even the student body have
shown towards the program is
any indication,” commented
Gano.
Princess photos by:
Holly Duffy, Pam Hill
and Krystal Kroker
May Day celebration near;
Spring Gardens theme
b y Nathan Gerstein
Once again the May Day holi
day is drawing near and the art
department is busier than a
beaver preparing for the occa
sion.
This year the theme is “ Spring
Gardens” and the art people are
stopping at nothing to transform
the gym into a garden. “ We are
doing so well in construction that
we will be done well in time for
May Day,” remarked art teacher
Ellen Martin. The set will consist
of six painted 8’ x 4” panels,
plenty of living plants and a bun
dle of tissue flowers, giant size.
This year’s celebration has
thus far included an art show in
the gym, separately featuring the
seniors’ work. “ In the past the
graduating seniors have not had
a chance to show their work, so
this was quite a change,” said
Betty Bursheim, art teacher.
The art students at West Linn
are getting involved. Senior
Diane Banash shares, “ I think
May Day is one of the most ex
citing things at W L, and I think it
is the most worthwhile for the
money put into it.” Freshman
Allison Wright says, “ I’m glad
that W L has so much spirit, and
it’s nice to be a part of it.”
Sophom ore,
Kim
Buckner
replies, “ I think that it is a good
experience, people work their
hardest on it.”
i