[Nz-folk] Dancing at Mangamahu in 1895

[Jo Foster]

Having been part of the rural scene. It is more like work hard, play hard.
It is not uncommon for farmers and farm workers even today to dance until
dawn (4 am) milk cows, feed stock and then go to bed. Why bother going to a
dance if you have to be home in bed by 11?
 
I remember dances and rural balls still happening when I sold up in the late
1990's. Lots of reels, waltzses and the dreaded gay gordons (often the only
dance the majority knew). Folk dancing is very popular in rural schools
still and my children spent the first years participating in regional school
folk dancing shows, if you can imagine 500 kids dancing with great gusto you
pretty much have it. Sometimes this as the only outside experience some of
these kids get as many of the schools had 10 - 50 children in total. 
 
The local pub 17km away had a hitching post, much to the delight of the
tourists. I think it is still there considering it is made out of an old
power pole.  We would ride to the pub, get rip roaring drunk and then ride
home - normally asleep.
 
Funnily enough life didnt seem that complicated. The work was hard, the days
long and socialising was a very important part of the community , you depend
on your neighbours to be there when you need help no matter how small.
 
This wasnt in Otago, this was in the South Waikato and I am now close to 40.
 
cheers
 
Jo

  _____  

From: nz-folk-bounces at kiwifolk.com [mailto:nz-folk-bounces at kiwifolk.com] On
Behalf Of Michael Self
Sent: Friday, 4 April 2008 10:45 a.m.
To: nz-folk at kiwifolk.com
Subject: [Nz-folk] Dancing at Mangamahu in 1895


This is the situation that the saying "Dancing till the cows come home"
comes from remember inefficient lights on modes of transport made journeying
home treacherous in the dark.
Mike
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