My world as I see it

May 2006 and the month starts with the ‘Obby ‘Oss celebrations in Padstow on May Day, and my annual trip to the Lake District for two weeks.

I did promise to update more often, but more health problems and computer problems have interfered with that. So, back to the archives and this pic of a ‘Obby ‘Oss from the May Day celebrations in Padstow…

This is an account of the day I posted at the time:
May Day started with a mix of weather, bright sunny but with the threat of rain on the horizon, and a couple of light showers. I went to Padstow, just a few miles from where I live on the North Cornish coast, where the annual May Day 'Obby 'Oss celebrations are held. The 'Obby 'Oss is thought to date back 4,000 years, a pagan festival to welcome Spring, although much of the current traditions are probably those which have grown up over the past few hundred years. At 10am the Blue Ribbon ‘Oss or Peace ‘Oss emerges from its ‘stable’ at the institute, called out by singers and dancers, and led by the ‘teaser’. Led by a band of accordions and drums the 'Oss dances along the streets led by the 'teaser' and followed by thousands of people. The 'Oss will often try to catch women and girls under it's 'skirt' as part of a fertility rite, and anyone caught is said to become pregnant within a year. I followed the Blue Ribbon 'Oss for a while, on it's slow journey along the streets, and then made my way to the Golden Lion Inn where at 11am the Old 'Oss emerged from it's 'stable'. I followed the Old 'Oss for maybe 2 hours up the streets of Padstow and out to Prideaux Place, then back into the town. The celebrations last from midnight to midnight, and by the time I left at 5pm the processions were still going round the town. In the end the weather was great, dry and sunny, and everyone was having a great time.