may day...

Sunday night after returning from Amsterdam, we arrived in Oxford on a very special night... May Eve! May Day is celebrated well in Oxford, and like everything here, there are traditions on how to celebrate. The usual pattern is that colleges have parties which run all night, and bars are also open all night long. The highlight of the day occurs at 6am, when the boys choir of Magdalen College sings ancient hymms from the top of their tower. Masses of people line up on the streets to hear the boys sing, and as soon as the singing begins, and errie silence falls on the place. It was really interesting to be there! As soon as the sining is over (it lasts about 10 minutes), everyone disbands for breakfast either in college yards or in restaurants, all of which open at 6am that day for all of the business it brings in! What a night... and to think I had to be in class from 845 through to 1700 that day...!