Folklore: Padstow May Day

Subject: Folklore: Padstow May Day
From: GUEST,Guest Interested
Date: 22 Apr 08 - 05:44 AM

Does anyone go regularly is any one going, where's the best place to be?

Subject: RE: Folklore: Padstow May Day
From: Rasener
Date: 22 Apr 08 - 06:11 AM

Is that you Breezy?

Subject: RE: Folklore: Padstow May Day
From: GUEST,Cats
Date: 22 Apr 08 - 06:33 AM

Yes I do but this year my Head has called a Training Evening on May 1st so I doubt if I will get there. Be on the harbourside at about 8am to watch the kids Oss and the Colts. This is the future of May day and they deserve your support. It always makes me tearful. You need to be outside the Institute about half an hour before the Blue 'Oss comes out so by about 9.30 at the latest. As soon as that is out and gone walk down to the Golden Lion to await the Old 'Oss at 11am. Follow whichever 'Oss you want to, both if you can. See them meet under the maypole, spend the day meeting and greeting old and new friends and cry at the Farewell in the evening along with half the population of Padstow. 'Oss 'Oss.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Padstow May Day
From: GUEST,Ebor_fiddler
Date: 22 Apr 08 - 06:35 AM

Weeeeee, Oss!

Subject: RE: Folklore: Padstow May Day
From: Zany Mouse
Date: 22 Apr 08 - 06:42 AM

Haven't been for far too many years. I'd love to go but can't. Enjoy!

Rhiannon

P.S. I also think this might be a spoof post by Breezy!!!

Subject: RE: Folklore: Padstow May Day
From: GUEST,Bill the Collie
Date: 22 Apr 08 - 06:55 AM

I love it. Go along and enjoy the day. Learn the words and sing your heart out all day. Don't just bystand like a daft tourist.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Padstow May Day
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 22 Apr 08 - 07:07 AM

Best place is by the tollhouse at the harbour, you can sup and watch the world go by, and heckle the knobbly-kneed hairy busker that looks a lot like Michaela Breeze, the weightlifting medallist - only nowhere near as good looking.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Padstow May Day
From: mattkeen
Date: 22 Apr 08 - 07:19 AM

I have never been, and really want to since listening to the version of the Old Oss done by Chris Wood and Andy Cutting.

Whoever goes, I hope you have a wonderful time.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Padstow May Day
From: Rasener
Date: 22 Apr 08 - 07:20 AM

You mean that lovely Bonnie, Bonnie, Johnny, Breezy LOL

Subject: RE: Folklore: Padstow May Day
From: Mr Red
Date: 22 Apr 08 - 07:48 AM

Beware Dave Webber's song about the 'Oss - it is taken for traditional even by the townsfolk. Much to his amusement. It is a good song, just not traditional.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Padstow May Day
From: Leadfingers
Date: 22 Apr 08 - 08:07 AM

Didnt Dave W get taken to task by a local? "You incomers turning up and singing OUR old songs!" - When Dave had just sung the song HE wrote about Padstow !

Subject: RE: Folklore: Padstow May Day
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 22 Apr 08 - 09:27 AM

Yes, Terry, I heard the same.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Padstow May Day
From: Wyrd Sister
Date: 22 Apr 08 - 11:40 AM

Cats, tell your head it's a day of religious observance, so you should be allowed time off! My sympathy - my head always used to do the same when it's Abbots Bromley. I shall be there again, and hoping spring has come by then.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Padstow May Day
From: GUEST,doc.tom
Date: 22 Apr 08 - 12:24 PM

The true story of Webbo and 1st May is that Nigel Rowe was performing in the Ringers and, as people arrived, he'd get them up to sing specific songs. Webbo got told to sing 1st May - after he had finished he was told by one local lady "If I was you, m'dear, I'd leave Cornish songs to the Cornish." Webbo was speechless - now there's a novelty. Later, Nigel who'd been singing it for some time locally, told the lady it was Webbo who wrote it - she was EXCEEDINGLY embarrassed.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Padstow May Day
From: Cats
Date: 22 Apr 08 - 12:46 PM

Wyrd Sister ~ he knows that I am a pagan as are 4 or 5 other members of staff at my school but the problem is that I cannot call for a day of religious observance and get paid for it and I do need the money! Never mind, next year is a Friday and I am not working in school on Fridays!

Subject: RE: Folklore: Padstow May Day
From: *Laura*
Date: 22 Apr 08 - 01:05 PM

I go every year - tis great! Make sure you also go to the night singing the evening before.... and there's always a good session in the Ring O Bells in St Issey the evening too.

With the osses - best thing if you want a good view is try and get in front of it and then let it come past you.... guesswork and logic are involved as much as luck in doing this!! It's also nice to try and catch (later in the day) when the 2 osses meet at the maypole...

Subject: RE: Folklore: Padstow May Day
From: Little Robyn
Date: 22 Apr 08 - 03:41 PM

I'll just be sitting here thinking about them from halfway around the world. But I hope we'll have our usual phone call from Enid and Alan Charlesworth as the Blue Oss heads up St Edmund's Lane. Laura, if you see a telephone poking out from a window opposite Puffin House, it might be me! (Or did Rick Stein change the name after he bought the boarding house?) I think Ian Charlesworth and his family now live in the cottage opposite, that used to be Mr Lindsay's house. That's where they were last year.
Sorry you'll miss too Cats.
OSS OSS!
Robyn

Subject: RE: Folklore: Padstow May Day
From: Mr Red
Date: 23 Apr 08 - 02:43 AM

doc.tom

Thats the version of the story I heard from Dave.

I would claim to be one of the first to hear him sing it - but he may have sung it elsewhere than the Somers Trad FC first. The Somers Arms, Leigh Sinton nr Malvern mid 80's.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Padstow May Day
From: BB
Date: 23 Apr 08 - 04:59 PM

Certainly he was singing it in September '86, because it was on the Song & Ale recording, so I think he may have composed it on his way home from Mayday that year.

Barbara

Subject: RE: Folklore: Padstow May Day
From: GUEST,Singer
Date: 23 Apr 08 - 07:52 PM

Mattkeen ... the song which Chris & Andy has recorded was written by Tony Dean ... folklorist, researcher, archivist, singer, songwriter, ace mate, friend of Cornwall and an extremely knowledgeable guru on all things Cornish. His song stands alongside any other song written about padstow (and there have been many), except for the Day & Night Songs of course.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Padstow May Day
From: GUEST,cats
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 06:10 AM

Perhaps next year we should have a May Day Mudgather? Any takers?

Subject: RE: Folklore: Padstow May Day
From: GUEST,Singer
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 01:45 PM

I would strongly advise against any such gathering if you know what is good for you! Padstow May Day has always been a rather inwardly facing custom very much 'by the people, for the people' and so it should be. Although visitors / observers are warmly welcomed there is also a level of tolerance which is exhibited on behalf of the town's folk. It is after all 'their day' and no one elses.

For over 35 years I have been able to involve myself with the Padstow / Wadebridge / Cornish folk scene both in and out of season (nothing like singing in the Golden Lion in thw winter months)which has over time enabled me to assimilate myself very well into various contexts without intruding or sticking out like a sore thumb. I also lived in Cornwall for over 20 years but despite all this I am still very much an 'outsider' who knows his place on May Day.

Over the years I've watched people being thrown into the harbour, boats and yachts being stormed and raided, and many other 'episodes' of frustration being shown by the local Padstow people when they feel that May Day is being used as a platform for other and especially 'folkie' type activities.

Beware of turning up in nerdy T-Shirts and using funny hand shakes!!

Subject: RE: Folklore: Padstow May Day
From: Cats
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 03:13 PM

Living here in Cornwall and also being an integral part of the Cornish Folk Scene for over 25 years and having sung with the Padstow Carollers for over 28 years I would agree that doing anything 'Folkie' on May Day is strictly against the rules. Mudgathers do not take over nor impinge on the activities and I think enough mudcatters who have been to them know this extremely well. The idea of a mudgather would be for any catters who are there to meet up somewhere and have a drink or an ice cream or a bacon sandwich and say hi. Nothing more , nothing less. I remember the morris team who turned up in full whites and proceded to dance on the harbour and ended up in it! I would never do anything to take the day away from what it is. It is Padstow's day and as long as people remember that it is fine, please do not label me as someone who would do anything to take that away and those who know me well would know that I would never do anything like that. I meet up with loads of people for drinks in various pubs etc around the town, starting with the night singing and going on through the day. That is the sort of meeting I was suggesting, not a whole hearted takeover.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Padstow May Day
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 03:28 PM

I wonder why this insularity is endemic at Padstow, but not at other events such as Haxey Hood or Bacup. Anyone have any thoughts?

Subject: RE: Folklore: Padstow May Day
From: *Laura*
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 03:34 PM

I've never experienced any 'episodes of frustration'. But that doesn't mean they don't happen I suppose. I've always found it to be a very welcoming atmosphere... but I've also never tried to do anything that might be seen as 'overtaking' or taking advantage of the situation.

Cornwall itsself is a pretty insular place, where the people are proud of being specifically Cornish. I imagine a lot of people are quite bitter that most of the money in the county comes from rich outsiders coming in for their holidays.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Padstow May Day
From: GUEST,John from Elsie`s Band
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 04:05 PM

Nice one GUEST "Singer", but Tony Deane.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Padstow May Day
From: Cats
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 01:51 AM

Ruth - It isn't just in Padstow. There are many places where this happens. Would anyone even think of trying to take over the Abbots Bromley Horn Dance, for example? I think not. I also think it tends to be the unbroken traditions that go back centuries and are passed from family to family and not revived ones by folkies.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Padstow May Day
From: GUEST,doc.tom
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 04:07 AM

Absolutely as long as "unbroken traditions that go back centuries" is understood to be a euphamism. The issue is people - and it's not just folkies - freeloading on, let alone taking over, other people's culturally embedded customary traditions. The whole issue in Padstein is exacerbated by other socio-economic problems. Customs can become, and frequently are, expressions of cultural identity - I think I'll stop there!
Tom

Subject: RE: Folklore: Padstow May Day
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 09:49 AM

May Day is the day for all padstonions, yes there is a welcoming atmosphere if you dont over step the line, it is our day it is what we have grown up with and feel very strongly when emmits get to much and we cant celebrate. cala'me bys vyken!

Subject: RE: Folklore: Padstow May Day
From: Cats
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 01:32 PM

Guest ~ whih is why if the catters got together it would be for a beer or a bacon sarnie or an ice cream and would never dream of even thinking about taking over. 'Oss 'Oss

Subject: RE: Folklore: Padstow May Day
From: Wyrd Sister
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 02:15 PM

I don't remember a harbour at Haxey? ;-)

Cats - I failed to meet you last year but hopefully will be in the Lion 29th & 30th this, the dogs are a bit of a give-away if you'd like a drink!

Subject: RE: Folklore: Padstow May Day
From: Wyrd Sister
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 02:17 PM

Oops! P.S. Wee 'oss!

Subject: RE: Folklore: Padstow May Day
From: Joybell
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 06:26 PM

I'll be there in spirit. Wish the rest of me could be there too.
Gwella gorhemmynadow ha Kernow bys Vyken.
Joy

Subject: RE: Folklore: Padstow May Day
From: Cats
Date: 26 Apr 08 - 02:09 AM

I'll wear my cowslips and blueballs with pride for you, Joybell.

Hope to see you Wyrd Sister

Subject: RE: Folklore: Padstow May Day
From: Wyrd Sister
Date: 26 Apr 08 - 04:34 AM

Cats, I know spring's late, but blueBALLS? ;-) Should I pack my thermals??

Subject: RE: Folklore: Padstow May Day
From: Rasener
Date: 26 Apr 08 - 05:28 AM

Blueballs, could be a bit painful LOL

Subject: RE: Folklore: Padstow May Day
From: Cats
Date: 26 Apr 08 - 07:54 AM

Ooops. It was about 7 o'clock this morning. Sorry. Actually, it is very warm today and Jon is outside in a T shirt [as well as trousers, shoes, socks...] but no thermals

Subject: RE: Folklore: Padstow May Day
From: Little Robyn
Date: 01 May 08 - 03:42 PM

OSS OSS
WEE OSS!

They'll be dancing right at this very minute - it's just after 7:30 am NZ time and 8:30 pm Padstow time (3:30 pm Mudcat time).
I had my phone call as the Blue Oss went up St Edmund's Lane, Enid held the phone out the window and we heard the band going past.
Wonderful!!!
Robyn

Subject: RE: Folklore: Padstow May Day
From: BB
Date: 04 May 08 - 01:05 PM

Great day - not as crowded as it sometimes is, and the weather held, and 'Farewell' was just wonderful, if late!

Barbara