The celebration of May Day is a tradition at the Chilmark School that has stood the test of time. After many years as a Chilmark School parent and a number of opportunities to help coordinate the festivities both leading up to and during the special day, I was the lucky recipient of a basket put together by the 4/5 students. This small and simple gesture of kindness is a true representation of what our community is all about. I am grateful. Although the tradition has evolved over the years, May Day continues to be about showing our community pride and spirit. For weeks prior to presenting the May Pole dance to their schoolmates, parents, family, friends and community members, the 4/5 students practice and perfect their hopping, skipping and twirling. Set to music they float around the May Pole with colorful ribbons in their hands which have painstakingly been sewn by community members.

In the days leading up to May Day, the fifth grade students secretly brainstorm on fun games to play after they dance. They compose a note that is sent home to families requesting baked goods, flowers and other sweets to stuff May baskets in eager anticipation for delivery to town elders and other loved and cared for community members.

Finally, after all the practice and preparing and, likely, a difficult night of sleep due to eager anticipation, May Day arrives. The children sneak into school, attempting to remain out of the watchful eyes of their teachers, drop off their sweets and flowers for the fifth graders to package up and then they sneak out of school to hide.

Years ago, when my own husband and his predecessors enjoyed May Day festivities, they had free reign to hide themselves all over town. I’ve heard stories of children frolicking down Old Woods Road to Menemsha and I’ve heard stories of children hiding under the Windy Gates bridge all wondering if their teachers or classmates will find them. Finding the ultimate hiding spot is the goal. Prolonging the joy of the day by hiding for as long as possible adds to the thrill.

Today, there are parent chaperones and students must remain on school grounds but, nevertheless, the philosophy is identical. Once the children are all out of sight, their teachers emerge from their classroom and exclaim, “Where are the children?” The teachers begin their search enlisting the help of students as they are found. This fast paced game is, in essence, a combination of both Hide and Seek and Tag.

After the children are all rounded up, the May Pole dance is the centerpiece of the morning. The May Pole is followed by the games that have been organized by the fifth grade students.

After a wonderful round of applause for the performers it’s time to hang the May baskets. In years past, the school children used to run across town to hang a basket on a Chilmarkers door. The children would knock, run and hide awaiting for the recipient to emerge from their home to seek the playful basket hangers. Eventually, the tradition evolved into teachers driving the eldest students around town to hang baskets and then it progressed into parents driving students to keep up with tradition.

On behalf of Jane Slater, Joannie Jenkinson, Margaret Maida, myself and any other recipient who may want to shout out a message of gratitude, I thank the Chilmark School students, parents and teachers for keeping the experience of May baskets, like the spring flowers they contain, a bright and treasured moment of community celebration.

I, for one, appreciate the sentiment of tradition and wholeheartedly enjoy the simplicity of a kind gesture unmarred by the fast paced 21st century.

Send Chilmark news to squidrow@vineyard.net.