Brackley Morris dance up the May Day sun
01/05/2025
They were joined by Queens Oak – a ladies’ side from Yardley Gobion
Its May Day and the ancient tradition of dancing up the sun on May Day morning brought Brackley Market Place to life early this morning.
Brackley Morris Men were joined by their guests Queens Oak – a ladies’ side from Yardley Gobion.
Dancing began at 5.30am and despite the early start a good number of people had made the effort to watch the annual spectacle. Amongst them was Brackley Town Mayor, Elaine Wiltshire.
She told us: “We’ve been coming for over 10 years now and it is a wonderful thing to come down to. It’s a bit daunting getting up at 4.30am but it is really worth it!”
“The Brackley Morris have always been here – it doesn’t matter if it’s snowing, raining or whatever. It’s a tradition that goes back many, many years.
“Today is a good turn out and the weather couldn’t be better.”
Dances were performed for around an hour and concluded with spectators being encouraged to join in. The sides and spectators then retired for breakfast in a local pub, which opened early for the occasion.
Brackley Morris Men’s plans for the rest of the day included dancing at two local care homes, so the residents could also be part of the May Day celebrations.
Adrian Watt is the Brackley Morris Men’s Squire. Of today’s event he said: “It’s a tradition that’s goes back to the early 80s. May Day is danced throughout the counties by lots of morris sides and is seen as an annual celebration of the passing of spring coming into summer.
“Brackley is very proud to have over 400 years of tradition of dancing in the local area, recorded as far back in Oxford as 1623. We dance the Cotswold tradition which is local to this area and the counties of Gloucestershire. Herefordshire, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire.”
Published: by the Banbury FM News Team
