Prepare for May Day madness in Redland

By Laura_Local | Friday, April 30, 2010, 21:18

It's that time of year again where things start to go a little crazy in Redland with the annual Jack in the Green procession.

Jack in the Green in Redland 2008 ( pic by Richard Toller at http://www.flickr.com/photos/richardtoller/ )

Visitors and newcomers to Redland may be shocked to see a giant tree-like man roaming the streets on May 1.

The tradition of parading Jack through the streets of Redland on May Day goes back up to 200 years.

According to the website, it started when a bunch of Bristol chimney sweeps created Jack to form part of the May Day celebrations to see in the summer.

It says that the dress of the modern day followers is almost certainly nothing like what was originally worn.

Jack in the Green sadly disappeared from Bristol's May Day celebrations for much of the 20th century, but he has become a regular feature once again in recent years.

Now,the nine foot tall Jack in the Green welcomes the Summer each year, in a lively procession through the city's streets, accompanied by musicians and dancers.

He appears on only one day - the first Saturday in May, passing from the historic Harbourside up to Horfield Common.

The route will take him from Broadmead and the Horsefair up St Michael's Hill onto Kingsdown Parade and Redland Grove, onto Gloucester Road and up to Horfield.

It starts at noon and should end around 4pm.

Finally, on Horfield Common, at the end of his journey, Jack must die, to release the Spirit of Summer. Come and witness this spectacle, and take away a few leaves and a little of Bristol's history and culture.

So what do we think? A bit of fun? A waste of time? Stranger than strange or another reason to love living in Redland?