May Day, the Jack in the Green Procession and his slaying!

Well, we haven't had this event since 2019 (blog) but this May Day Jack in the Green is back, and the forecast isn't too bad, fingers crossed! Monday May the 2nd will again see the Jack released from Hastings Fishermen's Museum at 10.15, Bogies and attendants will gather around the Jack, who starts the dancing off, the procession will form behind him and proceed along Rock-a-Nore Road to meet the Giants (above), dancing all the while, then it will turn right up All Saints Street, crossing The Bourne at the top, then head down the High Street, where the procession pauses for refreshments (ale!), music and yet more dancing (website).

About 12.00 noon the procession will continue on, turning right by St Clements Church and winding up Croft Road and Collier Road to the West Hill, arriving about 12.30. On the West Hill stage there will be more music, dancing, drumming and frivolities, and close by will be food stalls and refreshments, including more ale, a craft fair, and toilet facilities. By 4.00 pm the Jack will have been led by the Bogies to the stage and he will be symbolically slain and the Spirit of Summer is released for another year!

The history behind the Jack in the Green May Day Festival goes back hundreds of years, but the local custom faded away towards the end of the 19th century. The custom was revived in Hastings by Mad Jacks Morris Dancers in 1983, and a 20th/21st century Jack in the Green custom and festival developed to the present day (barring the last 2 years), when thousands turn up to dress and make up, or just to observe the procession, or just have a few ales, and yes, Hastings does like to dress up!  

Oh yes, and the Police have asked, as they do for all festivals, that pubs and bars use plastic vessels in which to serve their drinks, thus negating broken glass all over the old town, so I suggest you bring your own pewter tankard, if you have one. 

Enjoy the festivities and do welcome the Spirit of Summer! 

And you may just spot a few motorbikes around too... 😉 

And don't forget roads around the old town will be closed for much of the morning!