Dressing the pole with garlands of greens.

I asked someone if the design of the pole had any significance.  "Yes," she replied matter-of-factly, "it's a male organ.  Midsummer's Day is an ancient fertility rite, you know."

Oh...  yeah...  I had forgotten about that...

It was drizzling when we walked to the Great Meadow to see the pole-raising and dancing.  Moments after this picture was taken, the skies opened and the dancers ran for cover along with all the rest of us.