Welcoming the Month of Love

May as the month of love and maypoles are still widely practiced in many European countries. Although the exact pagan origins and symbolism are disputed, and customs vary, in Slovakia the maypole is associated with love and marriage. Unmarried men are responsible for cutting down the tree later decorated and raised in the town square. In some cases, a young man in love will--with the aid of friends--put one up in the yard of his beloved. So I've been told by Slovak friends, this nearly amounts to a marriage proposal.

The video below is from Liptovský Hrádok, Slovakia, where students of the School of Forestry and two folklore ensembles carry on the tradition. The song is Máj, máj, máj, zelený - "Green Maypole." Here is one of the verses with my translation.

Vstávaj dievča hore, sadíme ti máje,
ak hore nevstaneš, mája nedostaneš.
[:Máj, máj, máj, zelený
pod oblôčkom sadený.:]

"Get out of bed, girl, we're putting up a Maypole for you, if you don't get out of bed, you won't get one. Green Maypole, Maypole, Maypole, planted under [your] window."

So, here's wishing everyone lots of love this month!

I'll be back next week, May 12, with the first of my Summer Reading entries for this year: reviews of books you can take on vacation, or that will take you to a destination from the comfort and safety of your armchair.