The focus of Midsummer celebrations is the Maypole (or Midsummer Pole), decorated with greenery and flowers. It is a symbol of fertility: a tall pole with two large hoops at the top. The Maypole came to Sweden in the late Middle Ages from Germany where the pole was decorated with leaves and raised on May 1 (hence the name). However, because of difficulty finding the greenery needed to decorate the pole on May 1 (spring comes to later to Sweden), the tradition was moved to Midsummer.