When I was a little kid I used to dance around a local home made may pole every May 1st. I was well into my teens before I found out I was dancing round a phallic symbol.
We used to sing something like this
Round and round the Maypole merrily we go,
Tripping, tripping lightly, swinging to and fro.
All the happy pastimes on the village green,
Hurrah ! Hurrah! Hurrah! May queen
Then the queen would sing
I'm the queen don't you see
I've just come down to the village green
and if you wait a little while
I will dance a may pole style.
Can you dance a polka ?
Yes I can but not with you but with my young man.
First Upon the heel then upon the toe
That's the way the polka goes.
It's a bit rough and my memory isn't as good as it used to be.
Anyone else remember dancing around a may pole ?