These 2 pics are from our local 'Jack in the Green' festival held in May. The community Ritual culminates in a symbolic slaying of the leafy figure 'Jack' depicted above and then after a huge procession through the town of Hastings with much fun and merriment, he is escorted with his entourage of 'Black Sal', 'Bogey men' and 'Sweeps' to the ruins of Hastings Castle where people gather to watch lots of Morris dancing of all genres and excellent drumming until it is time for Jack to be bought on stage.
He arrives to cheers and a crescendo of crazed drumming and is then slain which is a symbolic, & a official release of the spirit of Summertime.
All of 'Jacks' leaves are then pulled off and thrown out to the audience which are kept for good luck, to ensure a prosperous Summer time.
They are kept until the next major fire festival celebration and then burned in another Town Festival.
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