Welcome

Gathering the Jewels features over 30,000 images of objects, books, letters, aerial photographs and other items from museums, archives and libraries throughout Wales.

Search the map

Thumbnail image of Wales,

New to Gathering the Jewels is G.I.S. A geographical search facility that will enable searching by location and place name.

Topics

Home » Neighbourhood and Community » Folklore and Custom » Maypoles

Displaying results 1 to 2 out of 2

Page 1

  • Dancing around the Maypole is a tradition in Britain which dates from around the 14th century. The tradition experienced a revival in the 19th and early 20th centuries, especially in school-based celebrations. This was originally a Germanic custom, but the ribbons appear to be a British addition in the 19th century, possibly inspired by theatrical representations of the custom. The idea was that pairs of boys and girls would dance around the pole in opposite directions, weaving the ribbons into an intricate pattern. This photograph displays the pupils of Bryncoch School before they begin their dance.
Bryncoch School pupils with Maypole, c.1920s
  • Near Lower Redbrook, Thomas Martyn views the iron and tin works. He also describes a hill called Pen-y-wale[?] on which a maypole has been fixed.
A Tour to South Wales, 1801, page 49