May Day History

• Short History  :  
• List of past MCs

Short History

May Day, the world famous ’Obby ’Oss celebration, is on the 1^st May. The origin of the Padstow ’Obby ’Oss lies in the mists of antiquity. It is probably one of the oldest survivals in the country, if not in Europe. That is why the Padstow ’Obby ’Oss had such an honoured place in the International Folk Dance Festival at the Royal Albert Hall, London, between the two World Wars. There is reason to believe that the ancient British people had a settlement near the harbour mouth at Padstow and that the ’Obby ’Oss is a link with them and their times - four thousand years ago.

This Custom will never be allowed to die out in Padstow. There are two main parties, Old Oss and Blue Ribbon, with more than one junior Oss. The celebration of the first day of Summer commences at Midnight with unaccompanied singing around the Town. During the day accordians and drums accompany the respective parties around the Town. After the Oss's are stabled until the following year, the musicians and dancers attend some of the inns, finalising the day at midnight around the Maypole.

Through the long centuries, of course, the May Day celebrations at Padstow have changed, and round the central figure, the ’Obby ’Oss itself, have gathered customs which, in other days, were widely shared. The greenery and the flowers and the Maypole are well-known survivals elsewhere, and even the Padstow May Song, which is sung to one of the loveliest of folk tunes, has something in common with the Hal an Tow at Helston on May 8^th. Here then at Padstow on May Day, as at Helston a week later, we are celebrating, as did our forbears down the centuries, the advent of Summer: "Summer is acome unto day."

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List of past MC'S

Blue Ribbon ’Oss (Peace ’Oss) Padstow

K. D. Constance, Blue Ribbon ’Obby ’Oss Committee

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