May Day 2005

Subject: May Day 2005
From: Sue the Borderer
Date: 17 Apr 05 - 12:57 PM

So - who's 'Up For It' on May morning this year?

I shall be at Upton Festival. Has anyone already got something planned there? I know the festival organisers haven't but I would really like to sing and dance in the May.

If nothing is already on, then LETS MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!! Get in touch via this thread and lets see what we can do. I'm already co-ordinating HERBACEOUS BORDER - a scratch border morris side - to dance 'under the bridge' at 6.00pm every evening. Anyone is welcome to join in with us (dancers, musicians, people who've never danced before). Hopefully some of them will be mad enough to get up early to see the sunrise on the Sunday morning.... and hopefully even more people would like to come along and join in. Singers too.

My Folk Club back in Bideford, N Devon will be singing in the May on the Kathleen and May - an old sailing boat on the River Torridge.

Who knows of other things that will be on? Especially ones where anyone can join in?

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: Morticia
Date: 17 Apr 05 - 01:01 PM

This is where Idris and I plan to be,Sue........more morris sides than you can shake a stick at

Jack in the Green

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: breezy
Date: 17 Apr 05 - 01:05 PM

Padstow for the 2nd May

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 17 Apr 05 - 01:37 PM

Micca and I will be at Hastings Jack in the Green with the rest of the Ravens and The Morrigan(giants...see gallery 2004 for pictures)This year as my knees are fixed I will carrying one of the Ravens!!...only 2 weeks to go!!

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: LesB
Date: 17 Apr 05 - 01:47 PM

Never mind 6pm it should be dawn!
The Southport Swords dance at dawn every year.
Cheers
Les

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: akenaton
Date: 17 Apr 05 - 03:06 PM

Just read int' paper that Morris dancing was originally Moorish dancing from Spain absorbed into English culture.

Is this true?

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: Little Robyn
Date: 17 Apr 05 - 03:36 PM

It's a myth! There are other theories around.
But I wasn't there at the time so I don't know for sure.
Robyn

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: MBSLynne
Date: 17 Apr 05 - 03:47 PM

I will be up on Breedon Hill in Leicestershire watching Packington Morris and friends dancing before the sun comes up. When it rises over the horizon, one of them, who now lives in America but comes over specially for the occasion will sing. Anyone is wlcome to come and watch

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 17 Apr 05 - 03:48 PM

Sue

Have sent off for Upton tickets, so we may see you there.

Have only ever managed to get up for May morning by not going to bed the night before....

Kitty

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: Sue the Borderer
Date: 18 Apr 05 - 07:44 PM

Yes, LesB, I agree it should be at dawn. I just want to find other people to dance and sing with at Upton at dawn (as well as dancing 6.0 every evening)

And, Yes, Kitty, that's certainly one way of doing it.

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: rhyzla
Date: 19 Apr 05 - 04:06 AM

Rhyzome will be playing at Northycote Farm open day in Bushbury, Wolverhampton. It is a community farm run by the city council, and has various events on throughout the day.

We will also be singing our song 'Mayday' - probably several times!!

Barry

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: Little Robyn
Date: 19 Apr 05 - 04:10 AM

I'll be sitting at home in NZ, thinking about Padstow.
Oss Oss

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: jonm
Date: 19 Apr 05 - 04:15 AM

Love to be with Packington for Jeff's singing, but I shall be at Felixstowe with East Suffolk MM at dawn (which is slightly earlier that far East, but not by enough to get me to Leicestershire!). The rest of Anker MM will be on May Hill in Gloucestershire.

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: MBSLynne
Date: 19 Apr 05 - 05:45 AM

Well Jon, you could always rush back to be at the Bull & Lion in the evening!!

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: Cats at Work
Date: 19 Apr 05 - 05:49 AM

I'll probably see the sun up either on Bodmin Moor at the Hurlers stone circles or down in the ancient woodland at the bottom of our lane. Of course 2nd May has to be Padstow. Night singing, then a quick five minutes in the camper before geting up to see the sun up and the town being decorated before bacon butties in the cafe by the harbour and watching the kids Oss (the Future) before the Blue Ribbon then Old Oss.

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: AggieD
Date: 19 Apr 05 - 06:51 AM

We(Bedfordshire Lace Morris) will be up & dancing at Katherine's Cross in Ampthill Park at 5.25am, as usual with Redbornstoke Morris, except this year we are having guests for the weekend, Utrecht Morris, Maids of the Mill (also Utrecht), Shrewsbury Maids & Shrewsbury Men. It should be a really great morning, in fact a whole weekend of dancing around Bedfordshire, although totally knackering!!

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: JohnB
Date: 19 Apr 05 - 09:28 AM

We will be at the Statue near the Grenadier Restraunt in High Park at dawn, Toronto Canada dawn that is. It's hours behind British Dawn but just as bloody early for us.
We being Orange Peel Morris, along with :- Green Fiddle, Toronto Morris Men, Belles of York, HalfCrown Clog, Toronto Womens Sword, Cold Barn Morris and anyone I might have forgotten.
Orange Peel Danced in Rochester last May day, we calculate that our side in Rochester were dancing on the Main street there, at exactly the same time, the rest of the side who stayed in Canada were dancing at dawn over here.
The rest of the day is spent around the streets and pubs of Toronto.
JohnB

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: GUEST,ClaireBear
Date: 19 Apr 05 - 10:26 AM

Playing for dancing from well before dawn at the Alpha Farm in Sebastopol, California, with Apple Tree Morris. I believe some carousal may be in order as well...

Claire

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: RobbieWilson
Date: 20 Apr 05 - 06:02 AM

All of these interesting places but are there any within striking distance of Upton. The Southern End of the Malverns loo interesting are there any gatherings there?

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: Sue the Borderer
Date: 21 Apr 05 - 01:58 PM

Hi Robbie - and anyone else
If nothing is already planned for Upton, then I'm planning on making something happen! Probably in Upton itself, cos I don't want to move my camper van at some unearthly hour of the morning.
Are you actually going to be in Upton? And will you be up in time? If so, watch this space for further suggestions

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: GUEST,Alexander
Date: 21 Apr 05 - 07:29 PM

My body will be in Redmond, Washington State, USA
MY HEART AND SOUL WILL BE IN PADSTOW.
OSS OSS!!

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: RobbieWilson
Date: 21 Apr 05 - 07:31 PM

I'll be there, probably still be up.

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: GUEST,Little Robyn
Date: 22 Apr 05 - 04:46 AM

WEE OSS
Robyn

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: Phot
Date: 22 Apr 05 - 08:29 PM

Bugger! I'll miss Padstow, and Hastings..............Stuck in Murmansk..............Unite, and unite for T55's are a coming tonight!

Wassail you lucky peeps!

Oss, Oss, Wee Oss!

Wassail!! Chris

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 23 Apr 05 - 02:16 AM

Murmansk! What time is sunrise there? April?

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: Cats
Date: 23 Apr 05 - 04:27 AM

Phot - if you have your mobile on, and you let me have the number, I'll phone you from Padstow and at least you can hear the Oss come out. We did the same for Mike O'Connor when he was in Africa a couple of years ago.

Oss Oss

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: *Laura*
Date: 23 Apr 05 - 07:21 AM

P-P-P-PADSTOW!

Night singing of course, then Oss Oss wee Oss!

xLx

p.s. Oss!

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: Leadfingers
Date: 23 Apr 05 - 07:36 AM

Along with most of Maidenhead Folk Club I will be at Upton - Though wether I will be up at dawn depends on how late the last session finishes ! Unless some nubile wench wants to keep me awake , of course !!

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: GUEST,Joe_F
Date: 23 Apr 05 - 09:22 AM

Hurray, hurray, the first of May!

Outdoor fucking begins today.

-- Said to be traditional at Vassar or Radcliffe, I forget which.

--- Joe Fineman    [e-mail]

||: Calling someone stupid is a poor substitute for saying something smart. :||

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: Emma B
Date: 23 Apr 05 - 05:20 PM

White Hart will be dancing in the dawn on May Day and for those still recovering from Saturday night (Rugby Club?) at Upton will also be dancing in the Kemerton / Bredon area from 10am Monday morning.
Love to join in your celebrations Sue - but only if I don't go to bed first!

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: Cats
Date: 24 Apr 05 - 06:05 AM

Leadfingers... I'm not nubile but what the hell... just a pity you are so far away on May Day... missed your chance!!!!! I'd keep you awake all night but not with what you expect.. at Padstow we stay awake all night night singing... yippee...

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 24 Apr 05 - 11:21 AM

Phot

Were you really hoping to make both Padstow and Hastings?

Did anyone listen to the Today programme or Excess Baggage yesterday?

The Today programme (from Leicester) had a questionnaire on Englishness put together by Bernard Crick, which included "What sort of horse do Morris men ride?", and Excess Baggage mentioned the Whittlesey Straw Bear and the Padstow Oss (both of it).

Kitty

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: Jos
Date: 24 Apr 05 - 03:01 PM

Radio 4 'Word of Mouth' said they are going to deal with vocabulary connected with morris dancing next time - Friday 4 p.m., repeated Sunday 8.30 p.m.

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: Jos
Date: 24 Apr 05 - 03:38 PM

For those in North America, Australia, etc., the radio programmes mentioned above are/were on BBC Radio 4. 'Excess Baggage' and 'Word of Mouth' can be listened to via the 'BBC Listen Again page'. There was also a programme by Mike Harding on Saturday evening: 'The Archive Hour: A Cumberland Odyssey. Preserving Traditional Songs'.

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: Jos
Date: 25 Apr 05 - 06:00 AM

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/progs/listenagain.shtml

The link seems to have doubled in length. Very odd - but I'm new to these techniques.

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: Little Robyn
Date: 25 Apr 05 - 04:08 PM

But in Padstow will there be a break because 1 May is a Sunday???
Will the night singing happen on Saturday night but the Oss's stay inside until Monday morning???
That happened in 1972, when I was there.
Robyn

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: breezy
Date: 25 Apr 05 - 05:59 PM

Well if it does, then I'll have a decent nights kip.

Lets find out.

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 25 Apr 05 - 06:09 PM

Will be at Girvan Festival: don't know if anyone dances on Ailsa Craig at sun-up. We have Beltane fire festivals and all that up here for May Day.
"Hail, hail the first of May"
TB

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: breezy
Date: 25 Apr 05 - 06:19 PM

o

for it is

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: breezy
Date: 26 Apr 05 - 04:40 AM

Hello Robyn

my source in Padstow, John Buckingham ,the retired grocer, says nightsinging midnight on Sunday.

Theres a new song just emerged, its bright and has a chorus, listen out if your there.

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: Dilligaf
Date: 26 Apr 05 - 11:43 AM

In Rochester kent all good pagans will be at the car park at the top of Blue bell Hill at 5.32 am dancing and singing to a tree, all invited.Lower bell Pub usually opens at 6.30 for breakfast etc if you don,t happen to bring your own coffee and hip flask.
Then fun in the High street all day long.

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: JohnB
Date: 26 Apr 05 - 12:10 PM

We (Orange Peel Morris) did Blue Bell Hill last year on our tour of England, also the Sweeps Fair. We all had a GREAT time, hope you can actually SEE the Hill this year. We are saving to do it again, this time probably with greater numbers.
JohnB

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: JennyO
Date: 26 Apr 05 - 12:26 PM

In Sydney, Black Joak Morris will be dancing at dawn at Mrs Macquarie's Chair in the Botanical Gardens, then working their way round to Circular Quay, then on to a pub for breakfast, then on to a few more to dance.

I certainly plan to be there, and with John to wake me up, there's some chance I might make it. I went two years ago, but missed it last year because I slept in. Not going to bed at all is more my style!

Jenny

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: Dilligaf
Date: 26 Apr 05 - 01:19 PM

Hi johnB I remember a good singing session with you in The Jolly Knight in the High Street. I,m part of Bishop Gundulf Morris, the idiots in green dresses and yellow pinnies and clogs on our feet.
Look forward to seeing you again if you can make it sometime.

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: Sue the Borderer
Date: 26 Apr 05 - 02:00 PM

Great to hear about so many things happening, but seems there won't be anything in UPTON unless we make it happen.

Richard Hannah who organises the morris at Upton said "May day morning tends to happen by itself at Upton, anyone who feels strongly enough to do something, does it (eg one year nude dancing on the bridge)" Not an approach I'll be taking up.

Someone calculated for me that dawn at Upton on May 1st will be 'between 5.36 and 5.37am' (Surely they could have got it more accurate than that!) Anyone else got figures?

I aim to be under the bridge at 5.15am - and hope I wont be there on my own. Be nice to know who else plans on being equally crazy. Come and say 'hi' sometime. You'll find me under the bridge on Fri and Sat eve 6.00pm ish (with Herbaceous Border) and dancing with Exmoor Border all day. (Blue & pale greeny coloured tatters, black faces and very flowery bowler hats with pheasant pheathers)

I do have some 'possibles' from sources other than mudcat - and I'll keep working at it.

By the way LEADFINGERS according to my dictionary, nubile means 'marriageable' ..... is that what you're really after?

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: Little Robyn
Date: 26 Apr 05 - 03:59 PM

Thanks Breezy, yes, they'll be in the pubs on Saturday night and spill out at midnight for the night singing, but will the Osses dance on the Sunday or have to wait for May 2nd?
Oss Oss,
Robyn

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: *Laura*
Date: 26 Apr 05 - 05:50 PM

The Osses don't Oss till the 2nd May.

Oss. Oss.

xLx

p.s. Oss!

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: Little Robyn
Date: 27 Apr 05 - 02:44 AM

Wee Oss!
Robyn

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From: GUEST,Cats
Date: 27 Apr 05 - 06:50 AM

Night singing is definitley at midnight on Sunday night / Monday morning. There is no night singing on Saturday.

Subject: RE: May Day 2005
From:
Date: 27 Apr 05 - 07:03 AM

There will be plenty of singing in the back bar of The Stag as usual at Hastings Jack in the Green this year...Saturday and Sunday then the parade on Monday.