Editing Maypole (section)

====Nordic countries====
{{Unreferenced section|date=September 2009}}
[[File:Maypole erection valje 4.jpg|thumb|Erection of midsommarstång, [[Sölvesborg]], Sweden]]
[[File:Bromarv. Satama. Juhannussalko 2019-2.jpg|thumb|A midsummer pole at harbour in [[Bromarv]], Finland]]

In [[Denmark]], the maypole tradition is almost extinct but is still observed on the islands of [[Avernakø]] and [[Strynø]] south of [[Funen]] and in a few villages in southern [[Himmerland]] in eastern [[Jutland]]. The Maypole is generally referred to as a {{lang|da|majtræ}}, meaning "May tree".{{Citation needed|date=June 2010}}

In [[Sweden]] and [[Swedish language|Swedish]]-speaking parts of [[Finland]], the maypole is usually called a midsummer pole, ({{lang|sv|midsommarstång}}), as it appears at the Midsummer celebrations, although the literal translation {{lang|sv|majstång}} also occurs, where the word {{lang|sv|maj}} refers to the [[Old Swedish]] word {{lang|sv|maja}} which means ''dress'', and not the month of May. The traditions surrounding the maypoles vary locally, as does the design of the poles, although the design featuring a cross and two rings is most common nowadays. A perhaps more original incarnation is the one still in use in the Swedish landscape of [[Småland]], where the pole carries a large horizontally suspended ring around it, hanging from ropes attached at the top of the pole. This perhaps more original form of course strongly reinforces the procreation symbolism. The cross-arm may be a latter-day attempt to [[Christianize]] the pagan symbol into the semblance of a cross, although not completely successful. {{Citation needed|date=June 2015}} Common in all of Sweden are traditional ring dances, mostly in the form of dances where participants alternate dancing and making movements and gestures based on the songs, such as pretending to scrub laundry while singing about washing, or jumping as frogs during the song {{lang|sv|[[Små grodorna]]}} ("The little frogs"). Ring dancing is mostly popular with small children. The central part played by young children in the celebration emphasizes the procreation aspect of the celebration. Yet another pointer in this direction is the custom that young maidens expect to dream of their future mate if they pick seven different flowers and place them under their pillow when they go to bed on this day only.{{Citation needed|date=June 2010}}