News / Bristol
Jack in the Green makes his annual outing around Bristol
The first Saturday in May always means one thing in Bristol: the annual appearance of the mythical Jack in the Green.
His annual dance through the city from the harbour to Horfield heralded the arrival of the summer.
The May Day spectacle is a centuries-old English tradition, which in 19th century Bristol was focussed on the Downs where there were dances, horse racing and processions of chimney sweeps for who the occasion was a special holiday.
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On Saturday, the nine-foot-tall Jack covered in greenery and flowers was accompanied by attendants ‘disguised’ in green rags and vegetation.
There was music, dancing and singing as Jack led them through the streets starting at Wapping Wharf and heading through the Old City, Castle Park, Broadmead, St Michael’s Hill and Gloucester Road.
At Horfield Common in front of dozens of onlookers, Jack performed a final dance and then symbolically died with his foliage stripped and taken away by the crowd.
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Main photo & videos: Martin Booth
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