Is setting up a small maypole in the yard weird?

40 comments

1. Your SIL sounds like a witch

2. Americans may think it’s fascinating and interesting and want to ask about it.

   I know I would. I immediately googled, in fact. Lol

   Edit: it sounds cool. Are there like costumes/traditional outfits? Can you tell us (me) more about your specific traditions?

3. I think it is a great idea! Please do it, and tell your SIL to suck an egg.

4. It’s by no means the norm but nobody will care. Just don’t give unsolicited lectures on its importance or why others ought to do it.

5. > My SIL says it’s a useless thing to teach and Americans will think it’s weird.

   Don’t mean this in a bad way, but this is a very british way of looking at the situation. weird is cool here no one cares.

6. Um, sounds adorable.

7. Cool, have fun. Who cares what other people think about what you do for fun?

8. What’s a maypole?

9. I have no idea what a maypole is but it’s your yard so go for it and anyone who doesn’t like it can pound sand

10. This was totally done at school when I was a child.

    It’s weird which traditions from our ancestors remain and which have been lost.

    I think most people that I know would find it fun and quirky.

    I think you should do it.

11. We used to make a maypole and do some sort of maypole dance in lower elementary school. This was in Idaho in the 80s; no idea how common it was or is.

    Who cares if it’s useless or weird? I think it’s nice to teach your kids some of your traditions. Guarantee your SIL does things that are useless and weird.

12. I think it important to learn about history and that includes learning your ancestors traditions

13. It is a free country, I would say feel free!

    I would love it a lot more than the pot smoke wafting into my yard these days.

    Just don’t get upset if nobody asks.

    One of my kids once made a snowman with two heads screaming in agony just like in Calvin And Hobbs. I loved it.

14. I read [this](https://americanhistory.si.edu/blog/may-day-americas-traditional-radical-complicated-holiday-part-1) article about May Day in America. I have to be honest, I have never heard of a maypole, but it would be interesting to set up one and teach kids about this. Unless your neighborhood is full of puritans, I think you’ll be fine.

15. Totally awesome.

16. I haven’t seen a Maypole in years!! Do it!!

17. SIL is an idiot. You wanting to show your own heritage, and your personal interaction with it, to your child is reason enough.

    I hope she doesn’t have kids of her own yet considering how much emphasis she puts on vague notions of utility. No room for joy.

18. OMG CAN I COME OVER?!

19. It’s definitely not a part of American culture, and people may think it’s a bit weird. . .but let them.

    Don’t concern yourself too much about what other people think. Not caring what other people think of you is VERY American. It’s a free country.

    Also, are we talking front yard, or back yard here? If it’s back yard, most people wouldn’t even see it so that’s fewer people to notice, or care.

20. The more culture in America the better, do it. Wth is wrong with that sister?

21. I mean I just had a giant inflatable fire hydrant sprinkler in my yard for the kid to play with. So yours can’t be weirder then that.

22. My second grade teacher did this for us and it was really fun. You should definitely do it!

23. I think most Americans would vaguely recognize it. Likely, the worst you’d have to deal with would be local kids who wanted to join in

24. Sounds like fun. In the 80s at my elementary school, K-5th grade, we had an all day May Day celebration with the Maypole dance and a bunch of other stuff I don’t remember. No classes for the entire day.

25. Not at all. It’s your property and it’s a free country. If I saw it, I’d be fascinated, curious and wanna know all about it.

    Do you have a homeowners association? If your house is under that, there may be rules about what you can do. Check with them.

    If not, do as you wish.

26. My newborn son is American but we still speak Chinese and Norwegian at home, go to temple, celebrate Syttende Mai, etc.

    You don’t suddenly lose your culture just because you moved to a new country and I don’t see anything wrong with teaching your native customs.

    If anything, my American friends (granted, all the Americans I know are the children of immigrants) encourage it and follow a lot of their parents culture themselves.

27. Do it and have fun! Your sister in law is being bitter for no reason at all. Your kids will enjoy the experience.

28. My friend and her husband sword fight in their driveway. They have a blast

    You be you. As long as you aren’t hurting anyone, who cares what they think?

29. I grew up in California and we used to learn the Maypole dance at school. And even if it were unknown here, there is absolutely nothing wrong in doing a fun activity with your children. SIL needs to mind her own business.

30. Have at it, who cares if people think it’s weird. In reality your neighbors will probably just ask about it and you’ll get to share your culture and traditions with more people.

31. Weird isn’t always bad. I haven’t seen anyone do a maypole dance, but I also having met anyone from North England. Maybe I would think it’s “weird”, but I would also think it’s pretty cool. And it’s obviously important culturally so I see no reaps why not to do it.

32. Most Americans won’t recognize it, but niche people will. My mom was able to find a Beltaine celebration in both of the closest two cities we live by (in a Midwest state). You might have found one not too far from you.

33. It isn’t common to have maypoles here. It is your yard so do what you want. I can’t imagine caring about some kids dancing around a decorated pole and having fun.

    Your sil is being kind of weird.

34. It’s by no means common and will definitely be viewed as unusual, but I highly doubt it would be viewed in a negative light, especially if you explain it to folks. You may even get people interested in it. Also, who cares if anyone says it’s “weird” as long as you’re having fun and it’s not hurting anyone.

35. If I had a neighbor with a maypole I would be giddy and Thrilled! I would hope they’d let my daughter play!
    That said, most people think I’m weird. So, ya know. Who cares?

36. We did this when I was in elementary school in the 90s, I remember it being fun! I say go for it, your SIL is the weird one.

37. If you’re a frequent lurker here, you may have seen many people asking why in the US we tend to treat our front lawns as showpieces, and then fence in the back lawn for privacy. So we can do this of thing, and not put on pants to let the dog out.

38. You will get a lot of weird looks. It’s not a thing here. Doesn’t mean you won’t get a lot of interest

39. I would like to be invited.

    I was always bummed during diwali in my old neighborhood since I didn’t really know any of my neighbors well enough to get an invite.

    Many of us like this outside our culture.

40. If you were erecting a massive radio tower in your yard that’s hundreds of feet high into the air to use as a maypole that would be a bit weird and annoying and could be an issue for aircraft and lightning purposes. If it’s really big and falls over and takes out stuff on other peoples property if it falls that might be an issue. Also be careful of any power lines or wind directions. I guess just unusual is all it would be.