The weekend continues in the 16th and 17th century English tradition with people making garlands of flowers and leaves. Then adorned in foliage for the May Day celebrations, with further dancing and music around the May Pole and Morris Dancers with performances from Mad Jack Morris and Hannah's Cat and the crowning of the May Queen, The Queen of the May, the spectacle begins.
The green faced Bogie Drummers, the black faced Chimney Sweeps and Chimney Boys who celebrate the dousing of the winter fires and the start of a new season, attended by Black Sal and the focus of the celebration The Jack, a garland covered man who was originally the Chimney Sweeps' garland, which in time became a character of its own, known as Jack-in-the-Green, start to assemble at the Fisherman's Net Lofts. The Jack is the symbol of summer and when released a procession begins around the town.
Crowds follow the procession starting in the Old Town and ending up at Hastings Castle for the ceremony called Slaying of the Jack, this releases the Spirit of the Summer for another year.
Taking place over the whole weekend, combined with the enormous motorbike gathering along the seafront, the annual May Day Bank Holiday London to Hastings Bike Run event, which dates back to the 1960s, results in most of Hastings coming to a complete standstill.
