Calendar customs at the Olympics?

Subject: Calendar customs at the Olympics?
From: GUEST,Red card
Date: 20 Mar 09 - 06:05 AM

If you were going to recommend a few calendar customs to be represented in the Opening Ceremonies of London 2012, which would you choose for drama and spectacle?

Subject: RE: Calendar customs at the Olympics?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 20 Mar 09 - 06:24 AM

So we transport the entire population of Padstow - or Allendale - maybe build a replica of Cooper's Hill - or else the villages of Haxey and Westwoodside... A media spectacular!

Subject: RE: Calendar customs at the Olympics?
From: GUEST, topsie
Date: 20 Mar 09 - 06:39 AM

Massed Jacks-in-the Green?

Subject: RE: Calendar customs at the Olympics?
From: sian, west wales
Date: 20 Mar 09 - 06:42 AM

A lot of regions have common or similar practices. The ones involving horses - Hobby Horse, Mari Lwyd, etc - are very visual and 'presentational'. The various May traditions - May Pole, May Branch, etc - likewise. I suppose overseas visitors always connect Britain with a Dickensian vision of Carolling, and you could do something clever to weave together the various regional expressions of this - West Gallery, Plygain, etc.

sian

Subject: RE: Calendar customs at the Olympics?
From: pavane
Date: 20 Mar 09 - 07:26 AM

According to recent research, the Antikythera device, an astronomical machine tracking the solar system, which was found in 1900 in a Greek shipwreck dating from the 1st centruy AD, contained inscriptions for the various Olympic games.

I asked myself, what is the link between astronomical alignments and the Olympic games? No-one else seems to have asked this, but surely it was for the use of astrologers, to make predictions about the games?

But not much use for London, I suppose.

Subject: RE: Calendar customs at the Olympics?
From: sian, west wales
Date: 20 Mar 09 - 07:28 AM

So - a widget for bookies to work out the odds, pavane?

sian

Subject: RE: Calendar customs at the Olympics?
From: Folkiedave
Date: 20 Mar 09 - 12:34 PM

Padstow, Allendale for starters.

Sheffield Giants - but I am biased.

Demon Barbers - good enough for China - good enough for UK.