Magdalen Bridge isn’t the only one to host May morning festivities in Oxford.
Crowds will also gather at Aristotle Bridge in Aristotle Lane, North Oxford, at the same time, 6am, for their own celebration.
It began about 20 years ago after North Oxford sculptor Michael Black had completed restoration work on the Emperors’ Heads around the Sheldonian Theatre in Broad Street.
Bryan Duffield, a member of Eynsham Morris Dancers, writes: “He invited Headington Quarry Morris to this celebration and built an ox to be wheeled down to Aristotle Bridge, with a maid dressed in garlands. He later involved Eynsham Morris through his friend, Rupert Boulting.
“After the celebration, Michael invited his friends and the Morris sides to breakfast at his home. Known as ‘Black’s Treat’, a great time was had by all, including the public.”
The celebration, which will again take place on Friday, also has its own ‘church bells’ – lengths of scaffold pipes hanging from a tree and played with a hammer.
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