May Day is sacred to Robin Hood and Maid Marian, as Robin Hood was said to have died on that day. Archery contests, perhaps in his memory, are often a part of May Day celebrations. Willow, either pussy willow, or weeping willow, is a tree sacred to May Day and the elements of water and the moon. Willow is the natural source of aspirin and has many healing qualities. Willow is also associated with death, femininity, and love.
Willow wood is good for making magical harps.
May Pole dancing is a form of country garden folk dancing done with a pole up to 9 feet tall that has colored ribbons attached in multiples of 4. Half of the dancers dance in an inner circle, nearer the pole, and the other half dance in an outer circle. The dance is ballet-like in structure, and results in the ribbons forming a plait, or braid, around the pole. Here are several possible resulting patterns. The Barber's Pole forms a striped pattern, spiralling down the pole like the traditional barber's sign.