Out in the villages various pre-Reformation customs survive, mostly associated with the rite of spring. After lunch on Monday I went with Marie-Astrid to see a display of May Pole dancing, carried out by children (her four-year-old daughter was too shy to join in). The first thing we saw after parking the car was this troop of Morris dancers doing a sort of jingling manoeuvre (they have bells sewn on the legs of their costumes), whacking their ornamental sticks together, prancing about to jaunty folk tunes.



Several attempts have been made to suppress Morris dancing. It was banned by the Puritans in the 17th century, then revived under Charles II, then nearly died out as the industrial revolution transformed society, and finally revived again by folklore enthusiasts at the end of the 19th century. Recently it has been ridiculed by “alternative” stand-up comedians and attacks on Morris dancing, which is basically a harmless pursuit, have become a clichéd part of “alternative” repertory.

After the Morris dancing there was the May Pole dancing. Marie-Astrid kept urging her daughter to have a go but she was too shy (there was a big platoon of Brownies commandeering most of the ribbons). Then the dancers, holding bouquets of flowers, formed a procession (women helpers walking alongside) and walked around the green, followed by the crowning of the May Queen (not sure how they selected her – traditionally it’s supposed to be the prettiest girl in the village but obviously that’s not going to be politically correct these days, and in any case could be traumatic for those who don’t make the grade).