New Year's Day in London

Subject: New Year's Day in London
From: Mrs_Annie
Date: 26 Dec 09 - 07:33 AM

We shall be in London on 1st Jan, after the Bellowhead party at South Bank. Does anyone know of anything traditional happening in London on that day - Morris dancing, mummers plays, etc ?
Any information most welcome.
Happy Christmas to all.

Subject: RE: New Year's Day in London
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 27 Dec 09 - 05:22 AM

Session at the Pigeons, 102, Romford Road, Stratford, E15. 3pm. Mostly Irish but if you want to lead off a set of something else....

http://www.thesession.org/sessions/display/2463

Subject: RE: New Year's Day in London
From: Mrs_Annie
Date: 28 Dec 09 - 08:50 AM

Thanks Manitas, but we're not looking for a session. I was looking for people doing stuff outdoors - e.g. Morris dancing, mummers plays, etc. All I can find on Google is the New Year parade, which it says includes morris dancers but apart from that looks scary.

Subject: RE: New Year's Day in London
From: GUEST,enfieldpete
Date: 29 Dec 09 - 03:31 AM

There is a mumming play and morris dancing at the King & Tinker pub in Enfield starting around noon on New Years Day. It is relatively quite a big event. The pub is located in Whitewebbs Lane which is in the grren belt area of Enfield (just off the M25). You can get a bus from Turnpike Lane going to Waltham Cross and get off at Bullsmore Lane and walk for about 20 minutes - as I do. You pass the Pied Bull Pub (worth a visit) and go towards Crews Hill. Check out the ECETERA Morris (Enfield Morris Men) website or perhaps the Hertfordshire Holly website for more info. The KIng and Tinker is a very historical pub so its well worth the visit. Hope to see you there.

Subject: RE: New Year's Day in London
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 29 Dec 09 - 07:25 AM

The New Years parade is worth going to see. Lot's of American and American-style marching bands (I understand that there's a competition in the US with the proze being a trip to the UK to take part in the parade), majorettes, British-style marching bands, piper bands, bonfire societies, morris dancers, samba schools and so on. The last time I was in it it was very noticeable for the lack of floats which meant that the parade could process at a suitable speed for the marchers.

Subject: RE: New Year's Day in London
From: Mrs_Annie
Date: 29 Dec 09 - 04:38 PM

Just found exactly the sort of thing I'm looking for but it's on the 3rd. :(

03 Jan 2010 Twelfth Night, London
Sunday 12:45 South Bank. Annual ancient seasonal customs with contemporary festivity. Free. To herald the celebration, the extraordinary Holly Man, the Winter guise of the Green Man from pagan myths and folklore, decked in fantastic green garb and evergreen foliage, appears from the River Thames brought by a Thames Cutter, where he is met by Mummers. The Mummers then process to the Bankside Jetty (east of Blackfriars Bridge), and perform the traditional 'freestyle' Folk Combat Play of St. George, featuring the Turkey Sniper, Clever Legs, the Old 'Oss and many others, dressed in their spectacular 'guizes'. The play is full of wild verse and boisterous action. Cakes are handed out at the end of the play, 2 of which have a bean or pea hidden in them. Who ever finds them will be crowned King and Queen for the day and then lead the people through the streets to the historic George Inn in Borough High Street for storytelling, the Kissing Wishing Tree and dancing. Free. Twelfth Night, London