Since moving to Oxford in 2011, I have rolled out of bed well before dawn on May morning<\/a> to go and hear the singers from the top of Magdalen Tower, singing Hymnus Eucharisticus<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n Of course, Magdalen Tower is so tall that hardly anyone gets to see the choir on the top of the tower, so it was helpful of Holman Hunt to paint this picture. One year, I overheard someone in the crowd say \u201cNah, it\u2019s a recording\u201d \u2013 but no, it\u2019s a real live choir, and they have been singing from the top on May morning since the 16th century<\/a>, though records only begin in the late 17th century, referring to it as an ancient tradition even then.<\/p>\n After the singing and the prayer from the top of the tower (which references \u201cOur Mother, the Earth\u201d), it\u2019s time to watch the Morris dancers and The Hurly Burly Whirly Earl-i in the Morning\u00a0Band<\/a> in Broad Street. The Whirly Band are a group of local musicians and bands who get together just for May morning. Dressed in green, they play on the steps of the Clarendon Building, and most of the local Pagans can be found among the crowd dancing to their tunes. Here are some photos of May Day 2014<\/a>.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a video of May Day 2013:<\/p>\n![\"By](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/311\/2016\/04\/629px-William_Holman_Hunt_-_May_Morning_on_Magdalen_Tower-300x229.jpg\")
<\/a>