Worthing hails the May with Sompting Village Morris

MAY Day began in traditional style as Sompting Village Morris danced through Worthing town centre just after dawn.
By The Newsroom
Published 1st May 2007, 11:10 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 00:58 BST

The group started their dance at 6.30am on Tuesday, May 1, at the war memorial in The Steyne.

From here they were led by a traditional Green Man figure, and paraded through Steyne Gardens, along Warwick Street and through the Montague Centre to the bandstand.

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Eliza Patrick, 13, was crowned May Queen, as the final dance ended in the early morning.

Traditional May Day rites and celebrations include Morris dancing, crowning a May Queen, celebrating Green Man day and dancing around a Maypole, to celebrate the Celtic festival of Beltane.

Padstow in Cornwall's Obby Oss day of festivities is believed to be one the oldest fertility rites of this kind in the country.

Hundreds of people follow the Oss through the streets and sing the traditional May Day song.

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Click here to listen to the Padstow May Day Song. This will open your computer's music player.

To order copies of these pictures taken by Herald photographer Malcolm McCluskey, click here and quote the reference number for your chosen image.

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