How we celebrated May Day this year!

 In the centre of our village is a hill. On top of the hill now rests a church that dates back to 1119 AD.  The vicar that works in the church now shared with me that the hill has most likely always been sacred.  Being the highest point in the area, it was most likely a pagan prayer ground and it is also where the beacon is located (the basket on a tall pole where fires are lit to warn other villages of pending danger).  It is at this point, in front of the church, where the morris dancers start their music and dance celebration every year at the exact moment of sunrise (5:37am this year).  Villagers come and watch, traffic grow impatient as the street is occupied for a short while, and the sounds of sticks banging, bells ringing, and magic fills the air.  The first year we went I was pregnant with Narina. We missed last year (there was no way I was getting up that early by choice) and this year we were able to share it with our sleepy little girl.  She loved it and clapped hardily after each tune proclaiming "Great Song!" as each one ended. It is a tradition that makes me so happy to live here.  It makes me love our little village and the community that I now call home.