Maypole dancing is a form of folk dance from Western Europe, especially England, Sweden and Germany, with two distinctive traditions. In the most widespread, dancers perform circle dances around a tall pole which is decorated with garlands, painted stripes, flowers, flags and other emblems. In the second, dancers dance in a circle each holding a colored ribbon and attached to a much smaller pole; the ribbons are intertwined and plaited wither onto the pole itself or into a web around the pole. The dancers may then retrace their steps exactly in order to unravel the ribbons.
  The first kind of maypole dancing is probably extremely ancient and is thought by some to have Germanic pagan symbolism. It is traditionally performed in the spring around the festival of May Day, but in Sweden it is during the midsummer festivities.
  The second kind of maypole dancing originates in the 18^th century, derived from traditional and 'art' dance forms popular in Italy and France. These were exported to the London stage and reached a large audience, becoming part of the popular performance repertoire. Adopted at a large teacher training institution, the ribbon maypole dance then spread across most of central and southern England and is now regarded as the most 'traditional' or May Day's traditional characteristics.

  While not celebrated amongst the general public in the United States today, a Maypole Dance nearly identical to that celebrated in the United Kingdom is an important part of many Secondary or High School dances as part of a May Day celebration. Often the Maypole dance will be accompanied by other dances as part of a presentation to the public.