Meaning
A traditional folk dance in which dancers weave brightly coloured ribbons around a tall pole, plaiting them into a pattern as they circle and then unwinding them. Adapted from European May-Day custom, it is performed at school concerts, festivals, and cultural shows across Jamaica.
Examples
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Di school pickney dem do di maypole dance fi festival.
The schoolchildren did the maypole dance for the festival.
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Weave di ribbon roun di maypole.
Weave the ribbon around the maypole.
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Di maypole plait up nice an colourful.
The maypole was plaited up nicely and colourfully.
Origin
From the European May-Day maypole tradition, adapted into Jamaican folk-dance and festival culture.
How it’s used
A ribbon-plaiting folk dance of school concerts and festivals. Compare 'jonkonnu', 'dinki-mini', 'quadrille'.