May Day Celebrations and Pagan Festivals Cornwall

Padstow Obby Oss

Harbour Inn Stable of the Blue Ribbon Oss Keep 'er gain all night Golden Lion Hotel Stable of the OldOss

Padstow Obby Oss

Traditional midnight singing with the Obby Oss Choir, the town reverberating to the call to all Padstonians 'Unite and Unite and let us all Unite' The 1st of May sees Padstow on the Camel Estuary on the north goast of Cornwall decorated with the first greenery of the year, bluebells, cowslips,forget-me-nots, the catkins of hazel and sycamore twigs heavy with the first leaves of Spring , and the procession - teaser and the dancers, singers and the unique 'May Song' , and musicians playing a hypnotic tune. Accordians, drums, triangles. The followers dressed in white with red or blue sashes coming before the Oss , all to celebrate the coming of Spring.

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Celebrations begin early morning on May Day with the stable doors opening to let the Oss appear onto the narrow streets. Firstly around the harbour crowded with thousands of onlookers. then up the narrow lanes goes the procession of the ObbyOss Clan even into gardens and houses. Festivities go on all day and into the evening. There is even a Childrens Wee Oss The Padstow Obby Oss is one of the oldest surviving customs in the Country, not just in Cornwall and is believed to be a ancient fertility rite marking the coming of Summer.

May Day 'Day Song'
Unite and unite let us all unite,
For summer is acome unto day,
And whither we are going we will all unite,
In the merry morning of May.

Traditionally held on the 1st except when that falls on a Sunday. Festivities are then held on Monday the 2nd. Please check exact date of event and timings before setting out

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