BELLE — A long-standing tradition continued May 1 as students, staff and families gathered for the annual May Day program at Belle High School, celebrating spring with music, ceremony and the crowning of the 2026 May Day Queen.

The event opened with a greeting from Belle Elementary Principal Bobbi Robertson, followed by the formal presentation of this year’s May Day Queen candidates: Havannah Carman, Savannah Ford and Saylor Kent.

Bailee Buehrlen, the 2025 queen, crowned the 2026 May Day Queen Havannah Carmen.

Kindergarten students performed the songs “Big Big Dreams” and “Follow the Rainbow,” during the program. The celebration included the traditional grand march featuring kindergarten students, followed by the fourth graders performing a dance and the winding of the May Pole.

That tradition, still carried out each year by students, continues a practice that stretches back centuries. The maypole, typically a tall wooden pole decorated with ribbons, flowers and greenery, has long been associated with the arrival of spring. During the dance, participants weave in and out around the pole, braiding the ribbons in patterns as music plays.

The origins of the maypole trace back to ancient European festivals marking the changing of the seasons. Historians often connect the tradition to pre-Christian spring celebrations in parts of what are now Germany, England and Scandinavia, where communities welcomed warmer weather and new growth after the long winter months.

By the Middle Ages, the maypole had become a central feature of village life during May Day festivities. Townspeople would gather greenery from nearby forests, erect the pole in a common area and celebrate with dancing, music and food. In some places, the maypole stood for the entire season as a symbol of renewal and community spirit.

The tradition was not without controversy. During the 17th century, Puritan leaders in England viewed May Day celebrations as inappropriate or excessive, leading to temporary bans. When restrictions were lifted, communities quickly revived the festivities.

As European settlers traveled to the Americas, they brought their May Day customs with them. While the popularity of maypole dancing has risen and fallen over time in the United States, the tradition has remained a familiar feature in schools, community festivals and cultural events.

Today, the maypole represents a connection to history, agriculture and the natural cycle of the seasons. The intertwining ribbons are often seen as a symbol of unity, with each participant contributing to the shared design.

In communities across the country, including Maries County, May Day celebrations continue to bring people together. The local program concluded with closing remarks from Robertson, marking the end of another year of a tradition that combines student participation with centuries-old customs.