Padstow is wonderful.
As time unfolds modes of celebration are created and continue. From individuals going out to meadows to families, to extended families to village communities.

padstow is a long procession with street theater just one mode

what we have to encourage is the perpetuation of all modes of celebration as well as the development of new ones.

I am most familiar with bonfire- guy fawkes. Over the last half century or more we have seen the decline if not disappearance of several modes of celebration. not as many guys on street corners, severe decline in backyard festivities and the dominance of large society sponsored events which is a late victorian addition. From time to time one has to look around and lend support, funding encouragement to the dying modes. I would like a return to the old Guys who came out in the early 19th century. i have revived that in baltimore going out each nov. fifth with the guy to an unpunished offender.

so we are guardians of lots of traditions.

As well as preserving the traditional modes of celebration we also need to work on engaging the audience in the action. these days festivals are becoming more and more less focused dress up masquerading has replaced purposeful reenactment striving for some degree of accuracy. When audiences attend minimally engaged we are not doing enough to safeguard the celebrations in the minds of the people as meaningful components of the lifeway- a mode of preservation more secure than any library or database.

Conrad