“In the Merry, Merry
Month of May,” from The Future Outlook, Greensboro newspaper, May 16, 1942
May—the month of the year when Nature makes its debut of the
summer season—the month when the whole world seems glad that it is in
existence. May, the month of marbles, jumping ropes, jack-stones, roller
skates—and MAY DAY!
May Day has long been a tradition in this country. It was
brought over from England. Early American literature recounts vivid May Day
ceremonies. May Day is a part of each American’s childhood. But we are at war
now. Doesn’t it seem just the least bit stupid for our children to be tripping
about over lawns in brief bits of color winding May-poles? Of course it doesn’t
seem stupid! May Day is a custom that has a benefit to be derived from it in
the long run even if it does seem frivolous at first glance. It would be a pity
if all the traditions and customs of our young America were to be dispensed with
because we are in the first year of a war. Now mind you, this war is a serious
thing! It isn’t to be laughed off. But if we can fight the war and keep our
morale up on the side by means of our American, purely American enjoyments,
then why shouldn’t we do just that?
Morale building is a pretty important problem to face in
these first days of international conflict. What would be the psychological
effect if there were no May Days? Quite negative, no doubt. What would there be
to relieve the grim, tenseness of news about the war—of the defense program,
and all the other familiar connected subjects? We need May Days—they symbolize
hope for a return to our former way of living before the war.
Of course the May Days we haven’t shouldn’t under any
circumstances be the elaborate affairs they have been in previous years.
Economy must be practiced; discretion must be exercised. Costumes need not be
made out of the best of materials. The effect is achieved if the costumes are
made of brightly colored crepe paper. The effect is the primary
consideration—May Days were meant to be happy days.
Many May Days are using the war as a sort of sub-theme. For
instance, Bennett College has as its May Day theme “the development of the
dance in America.” There are Indian dances, waltzes, minuets, and all the
conventional American dances. The climax of the exercises will be the
presentation of the Modern Dances, the latest group to make a contribution to
America’s dances. The Modern Dance group will depict symbolically the rise of
Germany, the subjugation of the minor countries of Europe, the conflict between
Russian and Germany, the entry of America and Japan into the world fray, and
finally the hope for tomorrow. This sort of May Day serves a definite purpose.
Dress your children for May Day exercises. Don’t take away
from their childhood joys. Their joys are limited as it is. Attend May Day
exercises yourself. May Day is America. Don’t let the May Day custom die—for
with it dies a part of America!
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