Mendon gets ready to celebrate its 142nd May Day

By Bryan Hinton

April 13, 2005 | MENDON -- The oldest continuous celebration in Utah is set for another year as the city gears up for its May Day celebration.

For the last 142 years, Mendon has celebrated the tradition that its founders from the Willey Handcart Company brought with them from Great Britain. This year's celebration is set for Saturday, May 7.

"There's no other time which brings the entire community together," Laura Morgan, a Mendon resident said. "It means a lot to those that get involved in it."

Morgan is the director of the May Pole dance, which involves all girls from fifth grade and younger. "I love it," she said. "I've done it for 11 eleven years. It's a lot of fun." Morgan said she was only able to actually dance around the May Pole once because her family moved to Mendon when she was in fifth grade.

Mayor Sydney Larsen said the celebration is great for the community. "It's important to us," he said. "We honor youth in the city and the coming of spring." He said the celebration is unique in that it is not for commercial purposes.

"It's not a big commercial celebration. It's a small-town, very traditional celebration. There are no commercial booths and no vendors. Our big commercial celebration is Pioneer Day."

Another activity at the event is the May Day court, which consists of all high school juniors. "It gives them something to belong too," Morgan said. "Some kids go to private schools while other go to the public ones, but they're all together in the community."

One girl is named May Day queen and gives a speech that has been given every year since the celebration began.

"It's a traditional speech," Morgan said. "It goes back to the roots of Mendon."

Other activities include a dance the night before for the adults where the May Day court will dance one dance with their parents. There are also softball games and other games for kids to play during the day.

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