 The rise of Protestantism in the 16th century led to increasing disapproval of maypoles and other May Day practices, because Protestants viewed them as idolatry and therefore as being immoral.When the puritan government banned maypoles in 1652, Elstow was one of the places that chose to ignore the ban.In about 1889, Elstow May Day celebrations appear to have lapsed for some thirty years – until 1925, when the headmaster of Elstow School, Mr R.A.J.