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Maypole Dancing

Delaware State Dance

Maypole Dancing official state dance of Delaware. Photo by Andrew Macaulay / Flickr (noncommercial use permitted with attribution/no derivative works).

Official State Dance of Delaware

Delaware designated Maypole dancing as the official state dance July 29, 2016 (expires July 29, 2017). All State Dances

CHAPTER 334, FORMERLY HOUSE BILL NO. 383

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DESIGNATION OF A STATE DANCE.

WHEREAS, the Maypole Dance is a celebration of springtime, the month of May, and the end of winter; and

WHEREAS, the Maypole is a tall, vertical pole, usually made from the wood of a cedar or birch tree, decorated with streamers or ribbons and held by dancers who perform the Maypole Dance; and

WHEREAS, the Maypole Dance has a long history dating back to Medieval times; and

WHEREAS, the Maypole Dance also has a rich history in the State of Delaware including both Dover and Old New Castle; and

WHEREAS, in these communities and Delaware as a whole there is a strong connection to the Maypole Dance, particularly at Dover Days, where it is performed annually; and

WHEREAS, the Maypole Dance is performed by local children; and

WHEREAS, the Maypole Dance involves the children dancers holding ribbons, moving in opposite directions around the pole and intertwining their ribbons as they go;

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend Chapter 3, Title 29 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 327. State Dance.

Maypole dancing is the official dance of the State.

Section 2. This Act shall take effect upon its enactment into law.

Section 3. This Act shall expire 1 year after its enactment into law.

Approved July 29, 2016