Do people actually celebrate may day?Well, at Oxford university they do. It is a huge tradition here at 6 am for everyone in Oxford to gather in front of Magdalen College to listen to the boys choir sing and bring in the spring with a little bit of liturgy.
No, students don't wake up at the crack of dawn for this tradition. Actually, they stay out all night at their formal balls, bops, or other parties - and stammer on to Magdelen bridge still decked out in tuxes , gowns, and highheels from the night before. The stanley road housemates were not part of this crew- we actually woke up around 4:30 am to cycle to the city center for the grand event. Aside from my few 6am rowing practices, this was the earliest I had ventured outside as the starting of the day rather than an end to it-
The street was packed full of students and adults alike. It was a beautiful morning for a May Day celebration, but I couldn't believe the number of people that had stayed awake all night for it. Alli and I somehow got behind Matt, Taylor and Tyler to the point where we couldn't find them anymore- but we managed to find a spot to stand directly infront of the tower to hear the singing.
The singing was nice, but short. I could tell many of the students had never been as they seemed a bit dissappointed that the church hadn't shot off fireworks or done something more bizarre than a modest scripture reading and few songs. I guess the hype with this event is really about what happens afterwards. Apparently students in past years have just haul themselves off of Magdalen bridge into the river below-which is not too high this time of year. Because of the enourmous amount of injuries in the past, police have to close down the bridge to protect the students from....themselves.....
Photo from this year's event- bbc
(read a 2005 article on it here. Crazy Stuff.)
I can't imagine why anyone would continue jump off a bridge when people are obviously breaking legs and scraping themselves up...It gives a new perspective on that whole "jumping off a bridge if your friend does" analogy....it seems Oxford students will at least say yes for the sake of May Day.Oxford students, as expected, are not to be underestimated. The tradition of bridge jumping continued this year by a faithful few who just waited until the police had gone.....
Aside from the early morning excitement, I witnessed some strange singing groups dressed in green.....drummers on the street....and a fire juggling guy dressed as a jester...
I had to get on to my tutorial though, so I couldn't stay around for all the festivities. My meeting last Tuesday went pretty well again. This week we discussed Neoliberalism and Constructivist theories- nothing to get to excited about as far as my blogging is concerned. I celebrated the end of another week with my first visit to the Westgate Mall.
I wasn't excited enough to jump off any bridges or anything.
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