MAJÁLES 2022 Celebration in Vancouver

WE RAISE MAYPOLES, GREEN MAYPOLES,

TO ALL VANCOUVER GIRLS FOR PLEASURE.

WE TIE RIBBONS, COLORED RIBBONS,

ON MAYPOLE’S BRANCHES, FOR PLEASURE.

FOR EVERY GIRL FROM OUR PARISH,

IT WOULD FLOWER LIKE A ROSE IN ITS YOUTH.

LET SLOVAK GIRLS STAY WITH US,

WITH HANDSOME BOYS HERE UNDER THE MOUNTAINS.

OUR PARISH CELEBRATES JAN – OUR PRIEST,

WHO OPENS OUR SOUL WITH LOVE.

WE RAISE MAYPOLES, GREEN MAYPOLES,

TO PLEASE OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

And MAY has arrived. Not just any month of the year, but MAY, when once upon the eve of May 1st a Maypole was hoisted under the windows of every young girl in the village.

In Vancouver, we simplified it a bit and built a common Maypole in front of St. Cyril and Methodius in New Westminster. The children decorated Maypole with ribbons, the women from the SLÁVIK ensemble sang, and the men made sure that the Maypole stood upright for the joy of everyone throughout the month.

The evening continued with Holy Mass and MAJÁLES, organized by the Slovak parish in Vancouver. It was a beautiful evening full of Slovak traditions far from the native land, but close in our hearts.

You can read about other events of the Slovak community in Vancouver on the Facebook pages of SLÁVIK - Slovak Folklore Association, and the Czech and Slovak Association in Canada.

https://www.facebook.com/slavikfolkloresociety/

https://www.facebook.com/CSSKVAN

Text and Photos: Marika Kubinyi