Amateur and professional photographers alike would relish in the opportunity to photograph a celebration. It was an opportunity to capture people's lives away from their daily routine, joining in festivities organised for personal, local and national events. Below are some of the main celebrations depicted in the DPA's collection.
1st of May: To go 'A-Maying'
People have celebrated May Day for centuries and continue to with localised events taking place up and down the country. On 1st May communities come together to celebrate with dancing, fancy dress and the crowning of the May Queen and King.
The May Queen, chosen from the girls in the village along with her King would reign over the events of the day including the popular Maypole dance.
All the children would play their part by wearing fancy dress. They would travel door to door, singing and giving out flowers in return for pennies.
Please to smell my garland 'cause it is the first of May
A branch of May I have brought to you, and at your door I stand;
It is but a sprout, but it's well budded out,
The work of our Lady's hand
Whitsuntide
The Christian celebration culminates in traditional Whit Walks, carried out since the Sunday school movement of the Eighteenth Century. Catholics and Protestants would hold a procession on different days during the week's festivities.
The procession would travel through the streets to the sound of a brass band. This was a major event in the social calendar of the working classes, which prompted people to make new outfits, worn as best. Those not taking part in the parade were on the streets watching. Photographs of the day's events could be purchased from the local studios making it more important than ever to look good as reputation was at stake. One person recalled how she was once locked in the back yard to avoid the shame of being seen in public without the appropriate dress.
Similarly to the May Day celebrations a Queen would be selected to lead the Whit Walks. To be named the Rose Queen, or one of her Rose Buds was seen as an honour and again, commemorative portraits were often taken to mark the occasion.
Local celebrations
Many towns and villages hold pageants, carnivals and street parties in honour of their areas and communities throughout different times in the year. Some people would wear fancy dress and walk in processions.
Coronations and Jubilees
These events of national significance have been celebrated country wide, bringing people together.
Workplaces, such as factories, would be decorated with patriotic emblems and garlands bringing with them a more relaxed atmosphere for the workers.
People would fill the streets with streamers and hold parties.
And people wore patriotic costumes.
Empire Day
From the beginning of the 20th Century this was an important event in Imperial England and throughout the Commonwealth, celebrated on 24th May in honour of Queen Victoria's Birthday. Patriotic gatherings, school ceremonies and church services became an attraction of the day. As time has moved on so has this celebration's popularity has waned. In 1966 its name was changed to Commonwealth Day and its date moved to 11th June, the official birthday of Elizabeth II.
Peace
The end of the war was definitely a time to rejoice. Victory day was celebrated with various festivities such as street parties and decorations for all to see.
Family Events
Families would come together, as they do today, to celebrate the more personal events in their lives. Studio portraits were taken to mark important days for children that were to be remembered such as breeching, where a boy wore his first long trousers, and christenings.
Families would also gather in the home to have parties, celebrating birthdays and anniversaries.
Sometimes the photographs would be taken in the street as the guests numbered so many!
Marriage
This event is almost always marked with a photograph. After a wedding took place the bride and groom would go straight to the studio, often with other members of the family in tow. Today people have extensive albums resulting from weddings but photographs used to be limited to only a few.
Sometimes photographs would be taken outside the family home as the photographer was invited to the reception.
