Questions about The May Queen

Reference code: FOL.QUES/34
Level of description: Series
Title: Questions about The May Queen
Scope and content: 1. Do children in your district still dress up as the May Queen?
2. If not, how long is it since the custom ceased?
3. (a) When did the season for observing this custom begin?
(b) And when did it finish?
4. What did the May Queen wear or carry -
(a) on her head?
(b) round her body?
(c) on her feet?
(d) in her hands?
5. What did her attendants wear?
6. Did the May Queen or her attendants make up their faces in any way?
7. Was any article kept from year to year for dressing up?
8. Were there any particular names by which special articles of dress were known?
9. What age of girl played the part of May Queen?
and what ages were her attendants?
10. How was the May Queen chosen?
11. Did the May Queen call at houses or just parade along the street?
12. What was collected by the May Queen and her party? And what was done with it?
13. Was the central figure in this custom known as:
The May Queen:
or as Queen of the May?..
or any other name?...
and were any of her attendants known by particular names?
14. Was there rivalry between different May Queens in a district, and if so, how did it manifest itself?
15. Did boys ever take part in or interfere with the May Queens’ processions?
16. Were there rhymes specially associated with the May Queen? If so, please give examples.
17. Did they also chant or sing other rhymes that could also be used on other occasions? If so, please give examples.