This presentation will tell you about an unusual festival called "Jack in the Green". I'm interested in your opinion on one of my early works

3. The History
of the Jack-
in-the-Green

4. May Day celebrations have taken place across England for centuries.
Although May Day has been banned in the past, festivities have been
revived and developed in recent times.
It is thought that the Jack-in-the-Green custom originated around the
17th century from the milkmaids and chimney sweeps of London. As
part of the May Day processions milkmaids would carry milk pails
decorated with flowers and silverware. Over time the pails were
replaced with decorated headdresses. Not to be outdone, chimney
sweeps began creating garlands, which became bigger and bigger until
the frameworks of greenery and flowers covered an entire man, a Jack-
in-the-Green.
There were at least two groups in Hastings and St Leonards that
paraded a Jack-in-the-Green until about 1889. The tradition died out
nationwide in the early 20th century. Since the folk revival on the 1970s
many customs have been revived. Hastings Traditional Jack in the Green
was revived in 1983 by Mad Jack's Morris who gave 'Jack' his own face
and have helped host the event ever since.

5. Date of the festival
28th April to 1st May 2023. The Jack in the
Green Festival is an annual event that
takes place in various parts of the
gorgeous seaside resort that is Hastings.
It's a four day event and attracts
thousands every year.

6. What does Jack-in-the-
Green represent?
The 'Jack-in-the-Green', a dancing figure in
a foliage-covered wicker shell, is often
centre-stage in contemporary May Day
celebrations. Many have chosen to see
him as a survival from pagan religious
ritual, an expression of the 'Green Man',
and the embodiment of the spirit of
spring.

7. Events

8. The largest event of its kind in the country, Hastings Traditional Jack in
the Green is an annual folk custom that was revived in Hastings in 1983
by Mad Jack’s Morris.
Taking place over the May Day bank holiday weekend, expect lots of
traditional dancing from performers from all over the country,
captivating concerts from some of the best folk acts, and join in with
fantastic ceilidhs and music sessions.
The main event is ‘Jack’ (a Jack-in-the-green), a man completely
covered in foliage topped with a floral crown. He bursts onto the
streets of Hastings and leads the procession through the town. After a
day of fun and merry-making he is stripped of his leaves to release the
spirit of summer. Catch a leaf and have a year of good luck!

9. Characters
Jack is accompanied through
the streets of Hastings with an
array of colourful characters

10. Hannah’s Cat
Morris
A Hastings women’s
Cotswold Morris side
and co-hosts of Jack
in the Green.
Dressed in pink and
purple, they get their
name from the
mummified cats of
local witch Hannah
Clarke.
Sweeps and The
May Queen
The traditional May
Day characters and
long-time supporters
of Jack in the Green.
Mad Jack’s Morris
Co-hosts for the
weekend. A men’s
and women’s joint
Morris side dancing in
the Cotswold style.
Easy to spot dancing
in white with the
Cinque Port colours of
blue, gold and red.
The Bogies and Sal
Guarded by his
cheeky Bogies, Jack is
led through the
streets by Sal and her
flower garland.
Don’t get too close to
Jack, or the Bogies
will soon make sure
you’re as green as
they are!

11. Thank you for your attention