May Morning
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May Morning is an annual event in Oxford, England, on May Day (1 May). It starts early at 6am with the Magdalen College Choir singing a hymn, the Hymnus Eucharisticus, from the top of Magdalen Tower, a tradition of over 500 years. Large crowds normally gather under the tower along the High Street and on Magdalen Bridge. This is then followed by general revelry and festivities including Morris dancing, impromptu music, etc., for a couple of hours. There is a party atmosphere, despite the early hour. In fact, there are normally all-night balls the night before, so some people (especially students) are in formal attire (e.g., black tie/white tie or ball gown).
There is a tradition of students jumping off Magdalen Bridge despite the obvious danger and potentially shallow water. In 2005, the exceptionally low water resulted around half the hundred or so jumpers requiring medical treatment resulting in the closure of the bridge in 2006.
Another May Morning tradition in Oxford is a performance from the legendary John Otway. This started at the Oranges and Lemons (now the Angel & Greyhound) on St Clement's, moving to different pubs around the city including The Gloucester Arms and The Bear (the one performance there being moved on by police on election day!) before finally returning to St Clement's at the Port Mahon.
[edit] See also
- English traditions on May Day
- The Oxcentrics, a jazz band that played on May Mornings in the 1970s
[edit] External links
- May Morning information and Music for a May Morning CD from Magdalen College
- May Morning 2003 from the BBC
- Morning, Magdalen Tower by William Holman Hunt (1890)
