“Unite and unite and let us all unite,
For summer is acome unto day,
And whither we are going we will all unite,
In the merry morning of May.”

These are the words from the strangely magnetic song sung en masse by the people of Padstow every year at Obby Oss – the town’s (probably Celtic) may day festivities.

My mum says the communal singing, the spring flowers and the beat of the drum always involuntarily bring a lump to her throat. Thinking about it, the lyrics are rather emotive and hopeful. (Modern translation: thank god for that – couldn’t have taken any more Cornish drizzle, please can we have a summer this year or I might have to emigrate.)

Obby Oss was a nice warm-up for Flora Day in Helston this Saturday (8 May) – as far as I’m concerned, you can’t celebrate spring enough with warm pints of Cornish ale and flowers in your hair.

obbyoss-padstow - cornwall