Maypole long-standing tradition

With the Portales High School Maypole ceremonies approaching next week, Portales High seniors have been preparing to perform by making decorations for the 84-year-old tradition while practicing traditional dance moves and exercising their vocal chords. Here's what some of the graduating class and helping teachers had to say about the ceremony:

Christina Calloway: Portales News-Tribune

Portales High School seniors prepared for the opening of their Maypole ceremonies Thursday night. The 84-year tradition will be performed this Thursday night at the high school gym and includes traditional dances and modern songs sang by graduating seniors.

• Judy Hernandez, Maypole queen

"It's a lot of hard work and time we have to put in it. I get to dance with a bunch of different people, so it's been fun."

Hernandez made Team Judy T-shirts, campaign posters and posted on Facebook when running for Maypole queen.

• Veronica Ayala, winder/dancer:

"I think it's an advantage, because it's the only time you get to spend time with some people you grew up with."

About her queen:

"She was motivated. Everyone else just settled for their names being put in and didn't care, but she really put effort into it."

• Haleigh Bird, winder/dancer

"It's brought us a lot closer. People in the senior class I've never hung out with, I'm hanging out with now."

About her queen:

"She was the most outgoing and the nicest. She was the most creative with the way she pitched things."

• Jonathyn Gonzales, winder/dancer

"It's fun too. For me, I don't have anything to do most of the time and it gives me something else to do. The dance leading off the pole, the cross step, is my favorite part."

• Angelica Enriquez, queen's attendant:

"It's been fun. I don't have to dance or do anything, just clean up after, make decorations and take pictures. I like decorating. The queen and attendants get to choose how pictures will be set up. I just liked creating the set up."

About her queen:

"She's made all the big decisions (such as choosing songs and the layouts for pictures)."

• Wendy Brooks, social studies teacher and Maypole co-director:

"It's been great working with the kids. They're a good group of kids and they're hard workers. It was great to see them come in March, not knowing much about dancing and seeing now how far they've come with it. We've all had a lot of fun. It's something they want to do and they come in there with the expectation that they're going to have a good time and put on a great performance."

Christina Calloway: Portales News-Tribune

Portales High School seniors Marissa Mowrer and Timothy Varela practice their entrance for the annual PHS Maypole ceremonies Thursday evening.

Fun facts:

• Maypole is a tradition which dates back to the 16th Century and began in European countries, such as the British Isles, as a way to celebrate the beginning of the summer season. The dance was originally intended as a symbol of fertility.
• The Maypole entails circular dance steps by men and women in formal wear as they intertwine ribbons around a pole.
• The Portales Maypole was started in 1929 by Varnell McCall. Portales High School is the only high school in the U.S. to perform the Maypole for 84 consecutive years.
• The queen is voted for by her classmates and peers and she dances with any participants left without partners.
• The first Portales Maypole events did not include dancing, because dancing was prohibited in school.
• The largest Portales senior class to participate was in 1978 with 52 couples. This year's event includes 40 couples plus the queen and her four attendants.
• Maypole practices last for 10 weeks before the ceremony.
• Portales students choose the songs they want to sing and this year, they will be singing the Christian music song "You Raise Me Up."
• The 2012 Portales Maypole ceremony will take place at 8 p.m. Thursday at the Portales High School gym.