People often query the origin of "Jack-in-the-Green".

Originally, Morris Dancing was a rural pusuit, carried out amongst the fields, trees and bushes - but always accompanied by a large consumption of ale (as harvesting and other country labour was). The result was of course that the dancers (and probably spectators) needed to relieve their bladders at frequent intervals. The proximity to bushes and trees made this relatively easy. Local hostelries would of course also have their own toilet facilities so the dancing could proceed fairly unimpeded.

Nowdays, of course, if you wish to collect any money, the most profitable place is in a town centre amongst the people engaging in that much more modern custom of "Retail Therapy". There are usually plenty of signs adverting routes to "Public Conveniences". Usually, however, this name is a misnomer as you embark on a route march, sometimes to a neighbouring town, but more usually to a facility that is closed or has even been demolished.

"Jack-in-the-Green" was therfore invented as a sort of mobile bush cum Porta-Potti to help Morris Men to overcome these shortcomings.