Here are two simple May Day songs that you can sing while dancing around the Maypole, dancing in a circle, or even sing without dancing, if you want. I wrote about what May Day is here.
These are songs that I sang with my parent-child classes and early childhood classes, too. I liked to begin singing the songs by dancing without the Maypole. Bringing in the Maypole was always so exciting. I liked the children to learn the songs a little first and then add the Maypole for extra fun.
Of course, we also wore our flower crowns once they were finished.
I would begin singing these songs mid-April and continue on through at least Mid-May because they were so much fun. As much as the weather permitted, we took our Maypole outside and danced in the spring sunshine.
Here We Go Round the Maypole High
Here we go ’round the Maypole high,
the Maypole high, the Maypole high,
Here we go ’round the Maypole high,
Let colored ribbons fly,
Let colored ribbons fly.
See lads and lassies go skipping by,
Skipping by, skipping by,
See lads and lassies go skipping by,
Let colored ribbons fly,
Let colored ribbons fly.
With rainbow garlands of every hue,
Every hue, every hue,
With rainbow garlands of every hue,
Let colored ribbons fly,
Let colored ribbons fly.
And here is a recording of it (by me):
I’m not sure that this is the melody as I learned it, but it’s how I’ve sung it for years. It’s basically the same melody as “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush.”
We just walked or skipped around the Maypole (or in a circle) while singing it.
Circle Around to the Right in a Ring
Circle around to the right in a ring,
Then to the left, as so gaily we sing.
Into the middle as far as you can,
Then we step back to where we began.
And here is a recording of this song (by me, again)
For this one, we just followed the directions of the song. Since most children don’t know right and left at this age, I would just let them follow me. When it was time to go to the left, I would pause and make an exaggerated turn–and sometimes I would say something like, “The other way.” It is very fun and the children catch on quickly, at any rate.
