Naked may day

Traditions, folklore, history and more. If it's Irish, it's here. Or will be! Circle of Prayer Blessings.

For decades, the proud student body of Washington College — located in tiny Chestertown, MD — has celebrated each May 1 by getting sloshed, stripping off clothes and gathering at the giant flagpole at the center of campus after dark. I learned about May Day only after wandering onto campus as a freshman in , but the tradition apparently dates to the 60s. The story goes that a lit professor unwittingly launched the tradition during a lesson on gathering ye rosebuds while ye may. His class held a celebration that allegedly included an actual Maypole, dancing, and crepe paper; how much nudity was involved is still debated. As a self-conscious and fairly self-repressed freshman, there was absolutely no way I would participate.

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The daylight in my room dimmed, bit by bit, as the sun dropped towards the horizon. I turned on my light and leaned back in the comfy chair, my legs tucked under me. My senior year college finals were taking place this week. A fancy name for a dumpy yet beloved campus dormitory.