May Day in Whitstable's a big thing - every year crowds appear to watch the strange events that unfold in this small town by the sea. It's a great day, with many a man and woman in costume, the town becomes an ode to days of yore with characters and dances aplenty. |
Somewhere around the mid-day mark, the morris men and women of Whitstable started to appear with strange cloth and instrument to dance merrily along the street and through the town. There are several different morris companies who display side by side for the town's enjoyment. The procession through the High Street, featuring Jack o' the Green (a large walking green tree) made its way to the Horsebridge Where the Morris companies put on a veritable extravaganza of hanky and stick. It's great to watch. The companies take it in turns to put on their displays as the gathered crowds jostle for position to witness this most rare of spectacles. |
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The band struck up a tune and off they went, one by one, feathers a' flying and knees a' slapping. At one point i heard the "Oyster Morris" leader shout to his dancing men "Come on, let's get airbourne"! All manner of strange instruments were employed to bring the joyous occassion to life, including what looked to be a wooden furniture leg, lovingly adorned with such a variety of beer bottle caps that magpies far and wide must have wondered if a venture into this strange cacophony was worth the risk. |
| Accordians also figured quite prominently ................ very skillfully played. |
The roots of morris dancing are shrouded in mystery, some saying that they are the remnants of pre-christian pagan religious rites, while others point to the use of the term "Morisco" as far back as Tudor times to describe dances performed by the Moors, or by people wishing to emulate the Moors. Nobody seems sure... the dances are associated with festivities now, particularly Christmas and May Day. |
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Perhaps it has something to do with spring? |
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Either way, it's a great day to see and be a part of, as practically the whole town turns out to join in and, for one day, your average respectable citizen can dress up like a tree or a horse, or a six foot bearded woman, and enjoy the spirit of the town coming together for a bit of fun.
Here are some more morris dancers.... |
and when everyone was suitably happy...... they bade the horsebridge farewell, and the procession moved on through Harbour street, and the harbour, and on to the castle........ |
Along the way, the streets were lined with locals and visitors waving, and small children chasing the costumed revellers, in particular, the horse and the bear, - others were just content to be having a pleasant stroll through the town on what was turning out to be a fairly warm spring day, with a mug of ale, and a friendly demeanour. By the time I reached the castle, the stalls were all up, and running like clockwork as the people navigated their way through the throng looking for a nice piece of homemade cake or some tea. Every year, the stalls go up, manned and womaned by the good and the great of Whitstable and beyond, selling all sorts of bits and pieces, as well as tempting the crowds with traditional games of skill and chance - such as splat-the-rat - where a small boy waited patiently at the end of a short length of guttering with what looked to be a rounders bat, eagerly expecting the "rat" which could drop out at any time, hopefully to receive a stout beating from our young friend. |
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And i wasn't holding out much hope for the ducks...
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Apart from the stalls, visitors to the castle were also entertained by music and dancing throughout the afternoon, many just enjoying a spot of sun somewhere in the gardens , or taking in a spot of punch and Judy, a nice massage, or some painting. Nearby, some stalls were also selling artwork, as an impromptu gallery sprung up on the grass near the coconut shy.
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And finally, there were the belly dancers, and cajun music, really..... what more could you ask for? |
