Children from local primary schools celebrated May Day on May 2nd at the green of St. Peter and St. Paul’s church.
The children performed traditional country and Maypole dancing. This custom dates back centuries, celebrating the arrival of spring.
Greeted by the Town Crier and Buckingham’s Mayor Cllr Margaret Gateley, Year 2 students performed a traditional country dance “I want to be near you”. Traditional maypole dances, The Barbers Pole, Gypsy Tent, and Chrysanthemums were performed by students from Year 4.
Town Crier, Patrick Laws, said, “We celebrate May Day because it’s a traditional English event. It celebrates the end of winter and the beginning of summer. So all the blossoms in the trees, the renewal of the land, that’s what it celebrates.”
Bourton Meadow Academy teacher Debbie Dearlove, who taught maypole and country dancing for several years at the school, said “how proud she was of the way the children danced and the passion they showed. All credit must go to the children for learning the dances and performing them in front of the public. This is a tradition that we must not lose”.
Cllr Robin Stuchbury, Chairman of the Town Centre & Events Committee said “It was a privilege to be there with Buckingham Town Mayor, Councillors, and members of the public against the backdrop of St Peter & St Paul Church to watch the children taking part in this tradition”.
