The May Pole

• an audience clapping
• a carnival
• a huge crowd
• people going wild
• outdoor concert
• spectators cheering
• a procession
• a bride and groom
• people caring placards
• people in fancy dress
• people in traditional dress
• people singing and chanting
• people waving flags and banners
• a demonstration

Which of these things can you see in the pictures above?

Look at the list of events:

• a big football match
• a big concert
• a carnival or procession
• a demonstration
• a peace march
• a festival or national celebration
• an important religious celebration
• a performance by a famous singer or actor
• a special party
• a wedding
• a sporting occasion

Which of these events have you been to? When? Where? What was the atmosphere like?

Read the sentences and say which of these events each sentence describes:

1. The bodies were being passed along by the other people in the audience.
2. We had to throw rose petals into the sea.
3. I must have been one out of about a million people.
4. There were loads and loads of people all over the place.
5. They had to wear only white and gold clothes.
6. They had this choir with 500 voices.
7. I found myself crying at some points and laughing at some points.
8. It was utterly spectacular.
9. In some way it was really, really magical.
10. It was one the most moving events I've ever been to.
11. They just closed off the streets and they had street parties and fairs.
12. The atmosphere was so positive.
13. The city just completely came alive!

Watch the video and say which adjectives best describe the event:

• spectacular -- colourful -- exciting -- gorgeous -- hilarious -- breath-taking -- terrible -- awful -- creative -- deafening -- magical -- shocking -- crowded -- silent -- musical

decorated illuminated crowded ancient colourful silent thrilled talented skillful experienced creative

Use the adjectives above to describe the following:

the buildings

the jugglers

the actors

the quay

the boats

the decorations

the spectators

the lights

Use the words from the cloud and try to predict what events we are going to watch the video about.

Now watch the video and notice how these words are used:

True or False?

1. The May Pole tradition is very old.
2. It has different variations.
3. It is connected to the arms and the military.
4. Once there was a short May Pole performance in front of the White House.
5. Today, the tradition is more popular than in the past.
6. You can also find the May Pole on the cover of some magazines.

Which is correct?

1. The lasting impression/impressive from a foregone first of May.
2. The season/seasonal actually begins in March but there was a time this day marked the true spring awakening.
3. And it was here long before any associated/association to arms or the military.
4. The traditional/tradition spent centuries and continents with its origins as varied as the costumes.
5. The May Pole even did a cameo on the lawn of the White/whitish House.
6. These days its a faded custom/customer, but in a few places around the country there are signs of a comeback.

Do you know any similar traditions in your country?