HAPPY MAYDAY BANK HOLIDAY!

Hi - same to you, though not so happy in this house! And it's raining.
Round here the locals do something called Jack-in-the Green (see hastingsjack.co.uk) - something to do with Pagan rites, Morris Dancing & Beer. I was hoping to go & see it today, but my wife is not too well (no, not my cooking), so am at home doing gardening & childcare. Fortunately, my lovely wife made some carrot cake muffins recently & there are still some left, so it's not all bad!
Would love to get down to your local tonight - could do with a night out, but would take me about 4 hours, I think!
Need to go & start on dinner now, though!
Have a good evening.

Typical May bank holiday weather here. Tipping it down all day. As a consequence we have had a relaxing, family day at home. Played some guitar, watched some TV, messed about on internet, played some guitar. Just about to start on dinner myself.

Best wishes to you all, and your loved ones.

It's an interesting holiday this one. I know there are lots of pagan traditions that go with it. All very interesting in a Morris Dancing kinda way. This side of the Rio Tweed it is traditionally a Trade Union holiday. Again, all very interesting, with lots of Trade Union events organised.

Too bad it's hissing down!

what are we missing. No holiday here in Canada.

Badeye  not

The Bank Holiday tradition over here is nearly always a Monday and it is just that - banks and (most) shops close for the day and the whole country has a one day holiday.

Most of the Bank Holidays it rains.

It's a tradition.

Hey Zurf, where in the UK are these naked Maypole rituals? Is it the pole or the participants that are naked? I think I'm livin' in the wrong area!

Monday night music was great. We had loads of regulars turn up and some newbies. Good Sesh!

Hope wherever you are you had a great time!!!

Hey Phill.

Kernoak (also Kernewek and others depending on spelling) technically Cornish. It's the language of the West Country although (it's my belief that) what would have been spoken here over 500 years ago would have been a cross between this and Welsh, or maybe the same as it is but with more of the same words; when reconstructing the languge early in the last century a lot of Welsh words were used to fill gaps.

We share the same counting system - onen, dew, etc and some greetings and phrases are pretty much the same  - dedh da - although spellings may change.

It is also 85% interchangeable with Breton. The Kernewek National Anthem is the same route as the Welsh - "Bro Goth Agan Tasow" (Old Land Of My Fathers) the Breton - "Bro Goth Agan Zhadow."

I'm not fluent, but trying - (some say very trying! )

The name Wales shares an awful lot in common with Cornwall. The Saxon for foreigner was Weldh (pron' "Whelth") which changed into Welsh and Cornwall is the same meaning "The Foreigners form the Kern" (Kern being spit or headland)!

I don't know how indiginous I am to this land (don't have any family to check family tree) but I always call myself British not English!

I won't get boring about the origin of the word Morris - see I am trying

Spent most of my Mayday getting over Oiche Bealtaine the night before. A night of singing and playing in Johnny Joe's.

Mayday is partly the remnant of Bealtaine, the ancient celtic festival of spring when the cattle would be let out into the fields again ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bealtaine ).

It is also International Workers' Day, commemorating the killing of strikers in Chicago by the police. The US Gov't changed the name to Loyalty Day, because of the Cold War - maybe it's time for Obama to change it back ?