ABSTRACT
The insouciant sexual attitudes of the rural proletarian youth proclaimed the individualism and affective relationships of modern society. But by conserving religious traditions they retained communal bonds. Dancing epitomised this double standard. The dance of the bonfire on the feast of St John was one of the most popular among the youth in both France and Germany. In pre-modern times dancing took place at prescribed times and only at those times. The liturgical cycle functioned as a social event calender as well. Certain times of the year were designated for penance, others for rejoicing. It was within the liturgical cycle that communal celebrations and dancing and the dances of sub-groups took place. Youth rites such as the 'Minneburg' and 'bonfire dance' took place on the first Sunday of May and the Feast of St John respectively.
