May Day

This used to be a pre-Christian festival but now it passes without much celebration. At school as small children we used to dance round the Maypole plaiting and unplaiting the coloured ribbons hanging from the pole in the middle to country dance music from an old wind-up gramophone!

Years later I climbed Giant's Hill at Cerne Abbas and watched the Morris men heralding the dawn and dancing with May boughs held high above the ancient giant carved into the grassy slopes. They would then wind down the hill to Cerne Abbas for breakfast and a mug of cider at The Royal Oak pub. It is said in days gone by, maidens used to come and sit on the giant in order to ensure fertility on their marriage.

In the streets of Padstow, Cornwall, black circular hobby horses dance up and down drawing many crowds from far and wide.