London, UK. 1st May 2019. The Fowlers Troop Jack in the Green procession on May Day from Deptford to Greenwich. Originally by members of Blackheath Morris Men in the early 1980s, this revived Jack in the Green has origins from about 1906, and continues its annual celebration march starting outside the Dog and Bell pub in Deptford marching through Greenwich, south east London. Credit: Guy Corbishley/Alamy Live News
Image details
Contributor:
Guy Corbishley / Alamy Stock PhotoImage ID:
T6GC3BFile size:
63.3 MB (3.9 MB Compressed download)Releases:
Model - no | Property - noDo I need a release?Dimensions:
3840 x 5760 px | 32.5 x 48.8 cm | 12.8 x 19.2 inches | 300dpiDate taken:
1 May 2019Location:
Deptford, London, UKMore information:
This image could have imperfections as it’s either historical or reportage.
The Fowlers Troop Jack in the Green procession on May Day from Deptford to Greenwich. Originally by members of Blackheath Morris Men in the early 1980s, this revived Jack in the Green has origins from about 1906, and continues its annual celebration march starting outside the Dog and Bell pub in Deptford marching through Greenwich, south east London, UK. Jack in the Green, also known as Jack o' the Green, is an English folk custom associated with the celebration of May Day. It involves a pyramidal or conical wicker or wooden framework that is decorated with foliage being worn by a person as part of a procession, often accompanied by musicians. The Jack is usually dressed on 30 April and is paraded on May Day. The tradition developed from the 17th century custom of milkmaids going out on May Day with the utensils of their trade - silver cups, pots, spoons - decorated with garlands and piled into a pyramid which they carried on their heads. By the mid eighteenth century other groups, notably chimney sweeps, were moving in on the milkmaids' territory as they saw May Day as a good opportunity to collect money. Whilst the tradition had died out by the time of the Great War, its revival has been encouraged by both the Folk Music/Morris tradition and the Pagan movement. Many of those taking part in the annual events began adding to the atmosphere of various pagan traditions.