Thursday, 10 May 2012

Hastings Jack-in-the Green




Hooray! Somebody’s posted on YouTube a video of our Hastings May Day celebrations.  This is what we do every year.  You need the sound on.

Perhaps you are thinking, “But wait . . . isn’t this terribly pagan?”

Er . . . yes.  It is. 

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365 366 Day 131 – Thursday May 10th       
 (if you don’t know what I’m talking about, see here)



We got this free-range hotplate for the time we’d be cooking in the living room while the kitchen was gutted and re-fitted – and thank goodness we did, it took two months!!  But we don’t need it any more.


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13 comments:

  1. Anonymous10 May 2012 at 14:35

    I can see why you need your solitude, Pen. Nine minutes of this activity, and I'd need to be alone for the rest of the year! :)

    Love, Paula

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  2. Pen Wilcock10 May 2012 at 14:38

    :0D

    Sussex is a bit wild.

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  3. Pen Wilcock10 May 2012 at 14:38

    It's all the trees.

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  4. Gerry Snape10 May 2012 at 15:16

    ....but fun!

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  5. Pen Wilcock10 May 2012 at 15:17

    Certainly is :0)

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  6. BLD in MT10 May 2012 at 20:22

    That looks like a really good time. I am a sucker for costumes, dancing, and old traditions. How fun that someone uploaded the video!

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  7. Pen Wilcock10 May 2012 at 20:31

    I think you'd love it, Beth - the right place for your cloak!

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  8. Ganeida10 May 2012 at 21:44

    Of course it's Pagan! But no~one's pretending it's Christian either & I am all good with that. lol

    I love these old rituals. I'd've made a good pagan.

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  9. Pen Wilcock11 May 2012 at 10:06

    Good point - yes honesty of any flavour is refreshing :0)

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  10. Slippyroad11 May 2012 at 14:33

    Is that a viol that the woman in the rusty brown wrap is playing. I am so impressed with how well she plays without resting it on her knee. This is what we play here. It is my neighbor and former student playing at our community hall: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbXexmwqx4s&feature=related

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  11. Pen Wilcock12 May 2012 at 11:27

    Wow! Some energy there! x

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  12. Donna12 May 2012 at 21:24

    I was very glad of this video - I watched the end of the procession, up on the hill, and felt there were a few familiar faces missing, then later discovered they'd stopped for a break in a pub and never got around to continuing! So now I've seen the whole thing. :-)

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  13. Pen Wilcock12 May 2012 at 22:28

    Yes, it was odd, wasn't it! They started out fine at Winkle Island, but never made it down the High Street. At least I don;t think they did. We gave up and went home, having seen them all set off by the net huts and waited ages for them to come down the High Street. The Jack came down and Mad Jacks Morris, then it all stopped, and the Jack went back again(!) From what someone said I think the idea of a short break had been built in this year but it just crumbled into chaos. Or that was what it looked like the bit I saw.

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Welcome, friend! I'm always interested to read your comments.