Maypole: A Unique Tradition

By Amber Knox

Senior year of high school is a right of passage. We close the door on that part of our life with sadness for the things that will end and excitement for the things to come. There are traditions and celebrations going back generations to commemorate this time in a person’s life. Senior photos, announcements, banquets, prom, baccalaureate, and graduation itself. But there is one more event that is unique to Portales High School and that is the winding of the Maypole.

Maypole is an ancient custom, originating in Europe, where dancers wound colorful ribbons around a living tree to bring in the spring rites. In 1929 Ms. Varnell McCall and her assistant Hester McDaniel added the winding of the Maypole to the senior ceremonies with sixteen ladies winding the pole.  The largest number to wind was in 1978 with fifty-two couples.

Initially only the female students participated, but males were added as escorts later. Eventually when dancing was no longer prohibited that aspect was added as well.

During World War II the tradition continued with only the ladies, as many young men had been drafted. PHS performed the event for ninety-one years before it was cancelled during Covid. That was the longest consecutive time in the U.S. for a school to perform the Maypole.

This year twenty couples have volunteered and met the requirements, such as GPA and student conduct, to take part in Maypole. Planning for Maypole starts long before senior year for many. The ladies typically ask the gentleman to be their partner and this has been known to happen as early as elementary and middle school.

The ladies are required to wear a formal ball gown in pastel colors with a hoop slip, gloves, and satin slippers. The gentlemen wear matching tuxedos which are now provided by Mr. De Los Santos.

The festivities are presided over by the Maypole Queen and her court. The Queen is chosen by popular vote done by the other attendees. Her court is made up of the other candidates for Queen. She is the only lady to wear white and she and the court do not wind the pole. This year the Queen is Jazzalyn Ruiz and she has chosen pastel purple and yellow as the colors.

Ashley Bailey, the current director, explained the process of getting the seniors prepared, “Students officially sign up in February, but we have parent meetings starting as early as November. Sign up is a special event. Couples are to arrive at the school promptly at 7:30am to secure a spot in Maypole. They must arrive with their partner with all paperwork completed. Spots in Maypole must be divisible by four so couples are not always guaranteed a spot so sign up is a first come first serve basis. We start practices the week before spring break. Girls start the first week so they can learn the box step and the boys begin practice the Monday following spring break. We have twenty-one practices scheduled this year. During the practices students work hard to learn two formal waltz dances. The right and left box and the cross step. The girls will learn how to Wind the Maypole in April as we strengthen our dance skills. We will have auditions for lead couples in Mid-April. Lead couples are decided based on the student’s participation, leadership, attendance, and dance skill.  Auditions for speaking and singing/performance parts will be scheduled at the end of April. Speaking parts include the welcome speech, introduction of the couples on the East Pole, introduction of the couples on the West Pole, and the farewell speech. We have two singing ensembles and a senior ensemble open for auditions.”

Former director of five years, Marilyn Stratton, was in awe the first time she saw the performance at the high school. Not being from here she had not grown up with the stories and pictures that so many Portales residents are accustomed to.

Ms. Stratton said, “What an awesome tradition!  As the only school left with this tradition, I feel it’s more important than ever to keep it alive.  It means a lot to students- just look at their photos and listen to their fantastic memories.  I was excited to help the tradition continue.  I loved spending time with the students and teaching the dances. I focused on synchronizing our movements, so each pole was lined up.  I noticed and corrected hand placements, dance moves, ribbon turns, etc. I counted the steps in my sleep.  I used geometry (with Kay Jilek’s help) to mark the floors, so each couple was equal distance around the floor.  So, organizing and managing the students in dance and behavior was my focus. It was so much work, and so much fun!”

Giving credit to Lou Sikes, her co-director of five years, Ms. Stratton said, “Lou Sikes is a very creative and talented lady.  There isn’t much she cannot do! She came up with all the ideas and decorations each year for the stage, the poles, and the gym.  She arranged flowers, created the Maypole bulletin boards, made pole toppers, sewed girls into gowns, decorated tables for the foyer of the gym, and so many other things. I helped with the decorating- she directed me and others who graciously volunteered to help.  She had the creative vision, and we help it come to fruition.”

This tradition of winding the Maypole at the end of a student’s senior year is one they have looked forward to for many years. Many families have generations of participants. When the time comes it takes many hands and weeks of practice, but the memories last much longer.

On May 18th they will decorate and then have one last practice before the dress rehearsals on May 22nd at 6:00 and 8:00pm. The official Maypole will be held May 23rd at 8:00pm in the Portales High School gymnasium. This event is open to the public.