GBD22: The Magic of May Day (with Ronald Hutton)
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- čas přidán 29. 04. 2024
- #ronaldhutton #mayday #mayeve #britishfolklore #celticculture
In this episode I talk with renowned British historian Ronald Hutton about May Eve and May Day. Ronald offers tips as to how we might celebrate this wondrous holiday and weave it into our lives.
I’m not sure why Dr. Hutton is suddenly everywhere on CZcams, but I’m 100% for it
I’m glad he is generous with his time and knowledge.
You can never go wrong with Dr. Hutton. He is a true National treasure.
Indeed!
It’s always such a treat to see (hear) these two talk about The May and other wondrous topics. Thanks for another great episode!
Thank you, baby!
Hey, my Lonoke, AR brother! What a treat, after getting up at 5 am, gathering flowers and dew, to find you talking to my favorite UK historian again. Definitely Blackberry Winter here in Ohio. Love the blurred lines between feral mating (life) and the thin veil to the other worlds (death). Thanks for a lovely start to the day. Blessed Bealtaine!
Hi, Tracy! So glad you enjoyed the episode. I went out before dawn this morning, as well, and gathered wildflowers. Wishing you a beautiful May.
Such a pleasure to listen to.
Thank you, @beatleowl!
Thank you for this video Greg. Always an absolute pleasure and a treat to listen to Prof Hutton. We are indeed blessed to have such a wonderful and engaging professor here in Britain. BTW, always put the jam on the scone first 😆
Thank you, Louise. On your advice, I’m going to give the jam-first method a try!
Love your content and interviews with Prof. Hutton! Thanks!
Thanks for the thoughtful comment!
The more I learn about Victorian England, the more I’m glad I didn’t live through it. Explains a lot about my paternal lineage. I lived in Deptford for many years and was totally unaware, probably even disinterested in the May festival there… Aiming to attend next year. Always a pleasure listening to Prof. Hutton 👍🏼
I agree! Hutton is fantastic. And a very nice guy, too. I had dinner with him and his girlfriend the last time I was in Bristol (January 2024), and it was a highlight of my time in England.
@@gregbrowndervilledimension Now that I know he has a girlfriend I can abandon my crush on him. Although I’d probably still blush were I ever to meet him in person 🤭 Absolutely delightful man. His wit, knowledge, articulation and intelligence are such attractive traits. I’m not the only person who considers him a national treasure. Really enjoyed the interview. Thanks ✨
I watched another interview you did with Professor Hutton and it was fantastic, you’re a great host! Loving this, thank you
Thanks very much! I’m so glad you’re enjoying GBD.
This vid came up in my recs - I'm so glad! - I guess because I watched Dr Hutton's (whose work, insights, and unique presentation style I have enjoyed for years) most recent Gresham College lecture. Anyhow - have now subscribed to your channel.
Thanks, @KatieRae_AmidCrisis! I appreciate the subscription. Hutton is amazing.
Great episode. Professor Scruffy looking positively dapper tonight.
Thank you! Yes indeed: Prof. Hutton is smart in both senses.
I’m only 41 and never saw a pumpkin till I was in my mid teens my mother would carve a swede which I believe is an older tradition than a pumpkin
I would love to see the mangelwurzels / mangolds they carve for Punkie Night in Hinton-St. George. I’m seriously considering going there for Punkie Night 2024.
Fantastic episode thank you both 🌹✌️😎🇿🇦
Thanks, Giuseppe! Ronald is the best.
Fun fact. May Queen potatoes are very popular in Japan 🥔 🗾
Fascinating! Thanks for passing this along.
I’ve bookmarked that hotel/inn. Always notice recommended foods and the establishment that serves them. If ever I’m in Pontypridd, I’ll be headed there for sure 🤤
It’s so worth it! The leeks and chicken puff pie is really good, and comes with chunky chips and mushy peas. The star of the show, though (apart from the great Welsh accents of the waitresses!), is the Eton Mess, by far the best I have found so far in the UK.
@@gregbrowndervilledimension If I ever get there, I’ll be ordering the same 🤤
Thank you mr Greg for your wonderful cultural channel. I hope you are not get bored of me . We appreciate your great efforts as foreigners subscribers as overseas students want to increase our cultural level and improve our English as well. Happy mother day in advance we celebrated mother day in last March as well as England. It’s different date around world you in USA and Canada on May . I gathered main information about topic you mentioned briefly here it’s May Day ie spring holiday and in some places, celebration of working people. Term sound similar, but they have different origin . They are not spelled same day . May Day is internationally recognized radio word to signal distress . First Monday of May is public holiday in Republic of Ireland. It’s traditional Celtic festival and time to campaign for worker’s rights. Traditions for kids on mayday dance around pole holding onto colorful ribbons. Many people use flowers and leaves to make hoops and hair garlands as well . Lot of towns also crown May queen on this day . Walpurigs night some countries celebrate night before May Day called Walpurgis night .May Day celebration over 160 countries such as most of Africa, Europe, USA is one of few countries that doesn’t celebrate this holiday to recognize workers .
Hi, Khatoon! I hope you have a beautiful May. Thank you for your kind comments and for your research.
#In the woods there grew a tree,
And a fine fine tree was he.
And on that tree there was a limb,
And on that limb there was a branch,
And on that branch there was a nest,
And in that nest there was an egg,
And in that egg there was a bird,
And from that bird a feather came,
And of that feather was.... A bed.
And on that bed there was a girl
And on that girl there was a man
And from that man there was a seed,
And from that seed there was a boy,
And from that boy there was a man,
And for that man there was a grave,
From that grave there grew... A tree.
In the Summerisle, Summerisle, Summerisle, Summerisle wood, Summerisle wood.#
Thanks for these lines, @Bsktlmp! Where do they come from?
@@gregbrowndervilledimension The "Maypole Song" from the 1973 movie _The Wicker Man,_
@@BsktImp
I loath that song.
@@BsktImpMediaeval Baebes do a great version
I'm surprised Ronald didn't mention Bampton in Oxfordshire which has the longest unbroken Morris and other Whitsun traditions. Best holidays ever - Christmas is a complete let down in comparison, we should dump it and restore our far more fun Spring festivities.
Thanks, @kubhlaikhan2015. What do the people of Bampton do for Whitsuntide?
@@gregbrowndervilledimension I hope its still going, been a few years since I was there. Government decree moved most events to Spring bank holiday weekend. Revolves around a congregation of touring Morris teams, a ritual Fertility cake, flower garlands, a pram race, folk music and a lot of drinking. It started getting over-popular in the 1970s but for countless years before that it was strictly a village affair (the village had no surfaced roads in or out, no taxis, no buses, no phone boxes, definitely no hotels...). I have photos somewhere of my grandfather getting involved about 1905 and my cousin briefly ran a Morris team in the 80s. In the past there may have been a maypole (I remember seeing a disused one somewhere) and some beating of the bounds but I guess that was before my time.
They have stopped putting black on the sweeps faces in Hastings, it’s full of tourists as a local you dare not go out with your children because they will get lost in the crowds , some reason we now have belly dancers as well so it’s become a hybrid of what it was.
Interesting. Is there a May festival that you’d recommend?
@@gregbrowndervilledimension
May Day festivals that have been revived such as the one in Hastings appear to be some kind of neo-pagan mashup of every folkloric trope.
And the anachronistic use of the term 'Beltane' rather than 'May Day' appears to be growing. For an example see the Glastonbury Beltane Celebration - Druids, Green Men, Maypoles, dragons, morris dancers, girls in floaty dresses and flowers in their hair etc.
Nothing much in common with a 'Celtic' fire festival that revolves around the moving of livestock to summer pastures.
@@gregbrowndervilledimension
But I suppose the Padstow May Day festival would be the one. EC Cawte in his 'Ritual Animal Disguises' describes it as a May Garland and Song custom - boughs are set up on the houses at night, there's a night visiting song, a day song, the collection of money, a Maypole. Plus, of course, the 'Obby 'Oss procession - but interestingly the 'Oss may actually be a Christmas performer that has become attached to the May ceremony.
Ronald Hutton during his 1980's visit had some interesting local insights as to the supposed origins of the custom.
What a pair of waffling goons - I’ve never heard such rambling rot! 🤣😂🤣
Say what you will about me, but Ronald Hutton is one of the most accomplished and beloved historians in all the world-hardly a goon.
@@gregbrowndervilledimension I was patiently waiting for evidence of any kind of accomplishment - Hutton, is without doubt, the King of Waffle and Vague! You complimented him extremely well in this ramble …
@@davideddy2672
Perhaps it's your evidently short attention span that's the problem.
@@YorkyOne 🤣😂🤣 No, just perhaps better versed! 😉
@@davideddy2672
Of course you are.