Morgan Silk shot these portraits at the Jack-in-the-Green festival in Hastings as part of a project exploring British Folklore. This revived tradidtion is one of the largest annual gatherings of Morris dancers in the UK and in May 2013 the event drew over eight thousand attendees, most of which were dressed appropriately for the occasion. 

 

The name 'Jack-in-the-Green' came from the garlands of flowers and leaves people would make for May Day celebrations. In a bid to outdo each other and have the biggest and best, it got to the point where people would end up wearing garlands so large that they covered their entire body, and so 'Jack-in-the-Green' was born.

 

The Jack, a 15ft green conical tower covered in leaves with a green man head on top, is paraded through the streets of Hastings Old Town for three hours, accompanied by a whole host of interesting characters including all manner of Bogies, Belly Dancers, Fairies, Sweeps, and Morris Dancers. Once the procession ends at the top of the hill, the Jack is 'slain' and the Summer is welcomed in.