102 THE GIANT AND THE MAYPOLE OF CERNE. 



The tree was prepared by lopping off all except the topmost 

 boughs, which were left green, and called the crown ; and the 

 trunk was stripped of its bark. There was often attached to the 

 pole a circular wreath, which in some places (4) was made of the 

 size and shape of a waggon wheel, the roue solaire ; and four 

 cross-bows were bent against the evil winds (5) as a menace to 

 the demons of destruction. 



The peeling of the stem was often done in such wise as to 

 show stripes or spiral bands, which in later times were super- 

 seded by ribbons. 



Smaller boughs, fashioned like little maypoles, were placed in 

 cattle-stalls over the heads of horses and cows (6) to promote 

 fecundity and lactation, and to avert witchcraft ; and were often 

 set up in front of the dwellings of marriageable girls. 



Among the Wends it was the duty of the Mayor of the village 

 to ascend the tree and affix to its summit a masculine cross of 

 wood surmounted by an iron cock. The former was sometimes 

 omitted, but never the bird, which, as in Sweden, was an especial 

 symbol of fertility both as to animal life and as to fruit and 

 corn. 



An essential part of the annual ceremony was the dance, which, 

 with high leaps and bounds, was carried round the pole in the 

 course of the apparent solar movement, from left to right ; and 

 this performance was required (7), at any intermediate time, of a 

 young wife brought into the community by marriage. 



A further solar association is to be seen in the facts that 

 sometimes the pole (8), and even the wreath, were ultimately 

 consumed in the midsummer fire ; and that the collection of 

 materials for this conflagration was begun at Easter (9). 



Municipal interest was shown by attaching to the tree local 

 flags or national banners. Any person who has travelled this year 

 from Paris to Marseilles may have seen, near the railway in a 



(4) As Questenberg. (5) In Bavaria. 



(6) Cf, Gen. xxx. 37. (7) Among the Wends. (8) In the Hautes Pyrenees. 

 (9) In Ireland and in Alsace. 



