May is a lovely month, with the start of good weather, blossom, bluebells, and white hawthorn flowering. For centuries the arrival of May has been celebrated with the tradition of dancing round the Maypole.
This week we show pictures of this tradition being performed in villages around the district.
You can see maypole dancing live at the Chiltern Open Air Museum on Sunday May 23, when the may team, an adult maypole dancing group, will be demonstrating the different dances.
For more information visit the COAM website at https://coam.org.uk/events/maypole-dancing/
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These girls are dancing round the Maypole in the Market Place, Princes Risborough, 1935
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Pupils at Wycombe Preparatory School are giving a display of Maypole-dancing during Mid-Summer Revels held on the Vicarage lawn in West Wycombe, 1954
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Here we see a demonstration of Maypole-dancing in the grounds of Holy Trinity Church, Hazlemere, 1971
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Bottom left: These children are in fancy dress as they dance around the Maypole in Cadmore End, 1970s
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Here we see pupils of the Church of England School in Hazlemere entertaining parents with a Maypole-dance in the grounds of Holy Trinity Church, 1970
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