A European retention which was originally celebrated on May first at the May Day fertility celebration in England. It is now very Jamaican in character. Groups may comprise 12 to 16 dancers - sometimes all female or with mixed couples. The plaiting of the pole with coloured ribbons has basic traditional patterns, starting with the grand chain, basket weave wrapping the ribbons around the pole from the top. The plaiting then continues away from the pole ending with the 'cobweb' plait before the full unplaiting takes place. Mento music is usually the musical accompaniment, but it is now not unusual to have groups perform this dance to popular reggae tunes.
