This May Day, meet a famous folklore face… Jack in the Green…
Compton Verney in Warwickshire, famed for its folk-art collection, is hosting an exhibition called Making Mischief: Folk Costume in Britain, curated by Simon Costin and Mellany Robinson of the Museum of British Folklore, and Professor Amy de la Haye from the London College of Fashion. It features more than 40 costumes on display, including this ‘Jack in the Green’ get up, the walking embodiment of the Green Man, that emblem of rebirth commonly carved in churches and painted on pub signs.
A Mayday custom first recorded in the 18th century, Jack and his attendant Green Bogies lead merrymakers until, at day’s end, he is stripped of his leaves to unleash the spirit of summer. One of the most notable annual events is the one revived in Hastings in 1983.
Exhibition curator Simon Costin was so enchanted by the spectacle that he co-founded Gay Bogies on Acid (fellow member, Spencer Horne, is pictured above), whose subsequent – and spectacular – impact on proceedings is widely seen as a touchstone for advancing LGBTQ+ inclusion in folk customs.
Making Mischief: Folk Costume in Britain is at Compton Verney until 11 June 2023. comptonverney.org.uk. See more of the costumes in the May issue of The Simple Things, which is on sale now.
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