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Article: May games and noble savages: the Native American in early celebrations of the Tammany Society.(Research Paper)
- Article from:
- Folklore
- Article date:
- January 1, 1997
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1997 Folklore Society. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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"A May morning indeed!" runs the diary entry a young Philadelphia woman for 1 May 1773, "this morning was ushered in by the ringing of bells in memory of King Tammany, as he was used to be called, but now I think they have got him canonized, for he is now celebrated as Saint Tammany" (Eve 1891, 19). This is obviously far from a traditional English May, not the least of its unusual features being a Native American patron of the festival who, moreover, has achieved some form of canonisation.
May Day was certainly not a widespread celebration in colonial North America. The influence of Puritanism in New England was, of course, a major factor in eliminating this as well ...