Dutch Maypole

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Dutch Maypole

Oxen drag the maypole, Netherlands

Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries

Media ID 581913

© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10028511

Drag May Pole Netherlands Oxen

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> Animals > Mammals > Bovidae > Ox

> Europe > Netherlands > Related Images

EDITORS COMMENTS
Oxen Drag the Maypole, Netherlands (Early 19th Century) Description: This historical image captures the traditional Dutch Maypole ceremony, an age-old custom deeply rooted in the Netherlands' rich cultural heritage. In this early 19th-century photograph from the Mary Evans Picture Library, a group of oxen, adorned with colorful garlands and bells, are seen pulling the heavy maypole through the streets of a quaint Dutch village. The villagers, dressed in their finest attire, follow closely behind, cheering and encouraging the animals with jubilant laughter. The Maypole ceremony, also known as 'Sint Maarten' or 'Sint Marteen,' is a centuries-old tradition that celebrates the feast day of Saint Martin of Tours. This annual event, held on November 11th, was an opportunity for communities to come together, socialize, and mark the end of the harvest season. The maypole, a tall wooden pole decorated with ribbons, flowers, and other festive adornments, was central to the festivities. The custom of using oxen to drag the maypole through the village was a symbolic representation of the strength and unity of the community. The animals' powerful pull, combined with the collective effort of the villagers, ensured the maypole's safe and triumphant arrival at its final destination – the town square. Once erected, the maypole would serve as a gathering place for the community, where they would dance, sing, and feast in celebration of the harvest and the coming winter months. This evocative photograph offers a rare glimpse into the past, transporting us back to a time when traditions, community spirit, and the simple joys of rural life were at the heart of everyday life in the Netherlands.

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