Dancing around the maypole on May Day
| Area | Mitcham |
|---|---|
| Picture Reference | Mit_Org_Events_31-25 |
| Original Format | Photo |
| Notes / History | The tradition of dancing round the maypole started during the eighteenth century, if not before. Part of the annual May Day celebrations, this dance requires a circle of youngsters to move round a central pole. As the dancers move around, they take it in turns to weave in and out of the main formation. This results in a pattern of ribbon around the Maypole. The dance is then repeated in reverse, gradually unraveling the ribbons. The location for this photograph is unknown but is likely to have been somewhere near Lower or Cricket Green. |
