Much mention is being made of "tradition" here. Colour of the plaits, Hal and Tow to be played etc, pagan and Wicca references, symbolism. is there any documentation of any longstanding tradition here? I dont mean about maypoles as such, of course this is well documented. I mean the plaiting ribbon dance as used in schools often. The EFDSS( I think) published stuff back in the 20's with suggested tunes(Come Lasses and Lads etc), and this went round sll the schools like wildfire, for a bit of the old Merrie England that Miss Pringle could organise. But what were the antecedents: could a folklorist give us a potted history of this?