The Montserratian tradition of masquerading is both a ritual and celebratory element of folk music. Groups of dancers ("masqueraders") with bright costumes and voluminous adornments, including whips ("hunters") that are used for the Masqueraders to move crowds away as they parade the streets, scare away evil spirits and send signals to other dancers. Masqueraders travel door to door and receive small gifts, while dancing a standard set of dances consisting of a heel-and-toe polka and five quadrilles. This celebration begins in mid-December and ends January 1.