There is a lot of misunderstanding about Cromwell and the banning of festivities. Cromwell only rose to prominence in the course of the Civil war, and was not in control of events (if he ever really was) until later in the proceedings. Consequently, much of the actions that are quoted are the responsibility of the presbyterian faction that dominated parliament. (He wasn't a presbyterian, and he later purged this group.)

Why were many of the puritans so opposed to maypoles and christmas festivities? It was because of their association with superstition and pagan ritual, which they placed on the same level as popery. The most important thing was the individual relationship with God. There was no intermediary, no church with a reservoir of supernatural power that could be tapped into, no priesthood with special supernatural powers.

Any ceremony that invoked supernatural power, or suggested that the priest might affect the spiritual state of the individual was questionable....baptism, churching of women, the funeral service etc. Any festivity or ceremony with pagan elements also fitted the bill.

Within this context, the maypole (to use Stubbes's quaint expression) was a "stynking eidol".

As for Cromwell, he said very little about these things himself. He did ban some gatherings (including foxhunts) during the reign of the major Generals, but this is because it was thought that they would provide cover for plotters to meet each other.

As someone pointed out, Cromwell liked music. He also had a very earthy sense of humour....in addition to the dancing at the wedding, he seems to have spent some time in placing sticky sweets on the guest's chairs!

Cromwell was, by the standards of the time, a remarkably tolerant man. He readmitted the jews to England, and presided over the first exercise in religious tolerance in England. His words to a group of religious nutters are often quoted...."I beseech you, in the bowels of Christ, think that you may be mistaken."