May Day--Dancing around the Maypole and other foolishness

[Alan]

If you guys haven't "done" MayDay in Victoria, you've gotta, at least once in your life, show up at 5:30 at Clover Point on May 1st for the annual, most pagan ritualistic dance you'll ever see in Victoria.
I've been attending this MayDay celebration at Clover Point every year now for almost twenty years, to renew my love of Morris Dancing, and to sing and chant with the pagans while dancing around a large pole that is all about celebrating fertility, the beginning of life and spring's wonderfulness.
Before anyone makes any wise cracks, yes, the large pole is tall, thin and very phallic, and the maidens in the audience like to get close to it to improve their chances of fecundity.

http://rgoldman.org/morris/mayday/2016/

And all about Maypoles: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maypole

[Rolf]

show up at 5:30 at Clover Point on May 1st

It's probably self-evident to you, Alan, but a.m. or p.m.?

(Not for me, I'm on Ottawa this week.)

[Alan]

Very good question Rolf. It's am. As in be there by 5:30 AM. Sun rises on May Day at 5:54. And this is important because that's the moment the Morris Dancers get their mojo going with their sticks, ribbons, bells, hankies, and baldrics, as they play music and dance in a celebration that looks like it was plucked out of the 13th century. Once the celebration is over we can all revert to the more modern-day Sunday ritual: A coffee at Starschmucks before the usual Sunday ride. See you there...

here's a Morris dance sample for you:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZjLATAUwao

[AJ Neale]

Thank you for bringing this to our attention Allan .... I suppose we shouldn't be surprised that you would be an enthusiastic participant since it involves bizarre costumes, strange rituals and an early morning start. The quote at the end of the link you sent seems telling:

"One of the most colourful descriptions of morris was provided in the 15th century, by Edmund, Duke of Edinburgh, the Black Adder who said, "Morris dancing is the most fatuous, tenth-rate entertainment ever devised by man. Fourty effeminate blacksmiths waving bits of cloth they've just wiped their noses on. How it's still going on in this day and age I'll never know."

Have fun!

Andrew

P.S. Should you ever repeat your choice of kit from the Friday ride, I suggest you complete the look by acquiring the same head ornamentation worn on the person at the far right in the group from Santa Cruz!