Quote:
Originally posted by C Elegans
Maypole dancing? Is this the same thing as the Scandinavian Midsummer celebration (3rd weekend in June) when a pole clad in leaves is risen and people dance around it singing they are frogs and jump? A very popular custom amongst the many summer tourists The pole is indeed a phallos symbol, the celebration was originally a rite of fertility. |
Very similar, though a maypole has ribbons attached to the top, and dancing around the maypole weaves the ribbons around it. I believe it has its origins in the pagan festival of Beltane (April 30th), which was a festival of fertility.
When we did maypole dancing for May Day at infant school, I don't remember anyone mentioning anything about phallic symbols, strangely...
