James E. O. 1961. 309. (Rather different in their character but more persistent and performed for much the same purpose are the May Day celebrations at the beginning of Summer, centering in the May King or Green Man, his Queen and his symbol, the Maypole, decorated with greenery. As the sacred pine tree representing the self-emasculated Attis was taken in procession by the dendrophori from Kybele's wood to her temple on the Palatine Hill in Rome at the Spring Festival on March 22nd, so in many parts of peasant Europe youth have repaired to the woods after midnight at the dawn of the month of May for a similar purpose.)