There will be lots of folky activity around Oxfordshire on 1st May - here are a few of the things we know about, but if you have any other information you'd like added to this page please do get in touch!

Oxford City Morris Men and Oxford University Morris Men will be processing from Magdalene Bridge after the choir has sung, joined by Icknield Way Morris Men and Manchester Morris Men. They will dance around various locations including Radcliffe Square, the Bridge of Sighs and Broad Street, working their way to St John's College for around 8am.

Icknield Way Morris Men will head back to Wantage to dance in the Market Square at midday, and will then retire to the Abingdon Arms for a music session.

Grand Union Morris will be dancing at Hook Norton Brewery in the afternoon.

Mason's Apron will be out in Oxford in the morning, dancing at Hertford College Bridge and then on Broad Street.

Sharp and Blunt will be out around Adderbury during the day.

Headington Quarry will be celebrating May morning at Aristotle Bridge in Jericho, joined by Eynsham Morris and new Oxford ladies' side Summertown Morris.

Eynsham will be making a day of it, heading off round the Cotswolds in a transit van to entertain the masses at various locations!

Owlswick Morris will be dancing the sun up at the Rollright Stones and then touring around the Cotswolds, see here for details.

Armaleggan are up Cumnor Hurst at 4.30am to dance the sun up, and will then be touring around Botley and Oxford later in the day.

Celebrate May Morning in Oxford

May Morning in Oxford is a traditional celebration of the coming of Spring and brings together Oxford’s communities to enjoy dancing, singing and revelry from around the city.  The celebrations start at 6am with the choristers of Magdalen College choir singing Hymnus Eucharisticus from the Great Tower. Magdalen Bridge will be open to pedestrians and closed to traffic on May Morning to enable everyone to enjoy the singing in comfort and safety. The bridge will re-open to traffic between 8.30 and 9am.

There will also be May Day events and activities taking place across the city with Radcliffe Square, Catte Street and Broad Street being particular 'hot-spots' of activity. There will be lots of folk music, Morris dancing and lots of places to grab an early breakfast!!

May Morning is led by the people of Oxford and is about everyone joining in the fun.  Let us know what you are planning and we will pass it on….

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Mumming is a ritual play that is well over a thousand years old. Whilst it is traditionally associated with the Christmas period (Midwinter Solstice), it is said to be linked with pagan rites showing the triumph of life over death (death and resurrection).

Indeed, in other parts of the country they are even performed at Easter and All Souls Day (near Samhain). We have performed the Wantage Mummers Play since 1977, which is based on an old tradition from the nearby village of Steventon.

We perform our play on December 26th. The Icknield Way Morris Men sponsor the Wantage Mummers.

http://www.wantagemummers.org.uk/