Lars Blackmore Ameridane Press
Musical Pairing: Sumer is Icumen In, Hal-anTow, May Song, Hail Hail the First of May, The Garden Song
Happy May Day! This ancient celebration marks the transition from the darkness of winter to the light of spring, a time to honor the rhythms of nature and the human spirit. It is the ultimate holiday for Biophilias! A celebration of our human need to connect to nature and other biodiverse species. Once again we are reminded that nature is at the core of existence in Indigenous ancient cultures and ceremonies and rituals were created and timed to honor natural cycles.
In Singing Bridge, we used to gather flowers to decorate baskets filled with homemade bread, jam, honey, and other baked goods. We would then leave the baskets on our neighbor's doorstep with flowers and hearts sprinkled in front of their door. I still remember the beams from Joanne Wheeler's smile when she caught me dropping off her basket.
Mom, the vibrant steward of these traditions, would raise a towering Maypole at the school. This tall wooden pole adorned with flowers and ribbons felt like the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree of May Day. It became so loaded with ribbons and flowers that I am surprised it remained standing.
Recently, I have been thinking about May Day and why communities do not celebrate it as much anymore. I think more communities need the magic makers like my mom, the active keepers of traditions and creative spirit always looking for an excuse to celebrate and express the music and dance that comes with these traditions. The songs and dances that mom picked all share a common theme of renewal and rebirth. Some of the most popular May Day dances were the Maypole Dance, the Morris Dance, and the Garland Dance.
Although there was some variation, May Day began with a procession led by a 6th grader, the May Day Queen, carrying a wand full of ribbons and flowers, followed by dancers tossing petals and weaving ribbons around the pole to create a vibrant, colorful pattern. One year, my mom asked us to dress up as mummers and dance in front of the school. I will NEVER FORGET that year because my pajama bottoms fell off in front of the whole school! Absolutely Mortifying!! Despite that embarrassment (among soooo many others!), I still love May Day and am the first to sing and dance if asked to participate again.
Recently, I have been remembering our childhood and realizing how much we knew as kids that we are only now rediscovering and claiming as “new scientific discoveries” now (I also think a lot about how much ancient cultures knew and how they must continue to scream at how far off course we have strayed). I remember the feelings and how during the May Day ceremony, the rhythm, songs, and movements of individuals meld into a whole of the group. The songs tell of rebirth and renewal, dark to light, joy, pride of place, fears and pleasures sung year after year, over and over again — some in rounds, some in call and response, some in poetic verses the whole community knows by heart. And through these ancient traditions, a shared understanding emerges and flows through our veins guiding us on the path of human existence. And if we listen to what we knew as children and pay attention to these shared experiences, the music and the storytelling that is passed down in the traditions that are shared from one generation to the next — we find the insights and lessons of how we live more joyfully and generously together in community.
An increasing number of studies on the neurobiology of pleasure and happiness have identified the biological correlation between human connection and community gatherings such as these and the joy that shared experiences, art, movement and sounds produce in our bodies and brains. Dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin and endorphins are released through these experiences and even when we anticipate and remember these moments and traditions our brains release these happy hormones! So strap on the ribbons — we have some fun traditions to help us feel happy and heal again! The science is now clear that connection with each other, building community, creative expression, music and dance increase levels of all these neurotransmitters. This explains a lot and why my mom is so happy singing, dancing and forest bathing, while my friends chasing the golden idol are so miserable and medicated. This is not rocket science!
We are finally beginning to understand the human mind. We have been conditioned by our institutions to run off and chase the greenback building great silos of wealth in soulless cities, while many of these rural communities have been forgotten. And what I think we are beginning to realize is that the magic, the Holy Grail has been patiently waiting for us to sharpen our senses and appreciate it and its healing power this whole time. These small rural communities and those grassroots organizers like my mom, the keepers of tradition and community, who connect and care for each other instinctively activate these strong bonding chemicals to create a unified and healthy society (we recommend reading Sapiens for more on this topic) already know what counts and deserves to be valued and make us happy and thrive. Community traditions involving music, dance, art, performance activate care and connection in our brain where studies have shown how a deep state of altruism, joy, awe and delight comes alive along with the release of dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin. And who may I ask does not want more of that!?!
So part of this exercise in writing down the roots is remembering that we already knew this stuff as kids and only now are we making the “scientific discoveries”. Rooted in our biological imperative for community, the fundamental values woven together to build connection through creative expression, traditions, the arts, shared experiences, and culture. And when we put these same values into action, as demonstrated by these smaller rural communities, we thrive!!!
So my dear friends, may your May Day celebrations be filled with joy and connection, and may you be reminded of the beauty, interconnection and power of the natural world and the importance of sharing experiences and strengthening community in our lives. And if that is not enough please share a family giggle as we offer you a Pinch and a Punch for the first of the month!!!
The greatest joy of Singing Bridge. Is that you, Celina, keep bringing us all back to our proverbial “roots.“ Your brilliant writing, enables this child of the New York suburbs to experience the beauty of your rural community as a child, enhanced by your dear Mum and her passion for passing down the wonderful May Day rituals, and traditions.
If you had, indeed been suffering from some sort of “writers block,“ this transition from darkness to light has given you the opportunity to unleash the fullness of your creative spirit.
Thank you. You make Singing Bridge the wonderful vision that can be turned back into reality. The sense of community, of neighbor, helping neighbor, of sharing and caring, trumps the golden idol, and the chase for the green back by a mile. Especially when civilization seems determined to commit mass suicide. Better to live and die in the company of close friends, then in the soulless towers of the anonymous cities.
Beautiful. Singing Bridge keeps getting better!