Clun takes its name from the river on which it sits and a fifteenth century packhorse bridge runs across the river connecting the Saxon and Norman settlements of Clun. However archaeological evidence suggests human habitation dates back to at least the Neolithic period 5,000 years ago. Clun itself sits on the historic drove road where livestock were driven from Wales to the markets in the Midlands and London.
The May Day festivities kicked off with Morris dancing in the town square. Before a procession to the bridge for the main event, a battle between the Frost Queen and the Green Man (introduced by Jack the Jester). The Green Man must defeat the Frost Queen in order for there to be summer in the Clun valley. His victory secured he escorts the May Queen to the castle grounds to open the traditional May Fair.
The form of Morris dancing performed in Clun is known as Border Morris (practiced in the English villages adjacent to the Welsh border). It's not without controversy as its usually practiced with blackened faces. Several theories as to its origin exist.
One suggests that the term Morris itself derives from the a variant of the word moorish used to describe the Moors of Morocco, hence the blackened face. Suggesting that the dance is a choreographed battle between the Christians and Moors or Turks often to music, involving swords and handkerchiefs. Others have argued the Christian/Moorish link is actually a later interpretation of earlier pagan mock battles between Summer and Winter, such as in Clun. In Portugal and the Basque Country for instance moor is also used to mean pagan, so perhaps "Morris dance" originally meant "pagan dance", bells and disguised faces being a common feature of pagan ritual.
Another theory is that it was a means of disguise. During the hard winters of the 17-18th Century out of work labourers and builders sought to anonymously supplement their income by dancing and begging. Border Morris was considered to have degenerated into a public nuisance as a result and in 1723 it became a capital offence under the Waltham "Black Act" to appear "in disguise, either by mask or by blackened face".
A third suggests that it is overly racist. The black face taken from the American minstrel shows that came to Victorian England in the 1830's. By the early 20th Century Morris dancing was commonly referred to as 'n****r dancing' or 'going n****ring'. It's also been suggested Border Morris is crude parody of African tribal war dances. The blackface of Morris dancing being part of the racist practices in Britain that contribute to the American minstrel tradition.
To avoid controversy, some dance groups wear masks or colour their faces in different colours.
As for the battle between the Green Man and Frost Queen its one of the many examples from pagan cultures of the symbolic mock battles between Summer and Winter to welcome in the summer and banish winter. Traditionally held on 1 May, the mid-point between Spring Equinox and Summer Solstice. It's not hard to see why such an event would hold deep spiritual significance for agrarian cultures.
Indeed the Green Man appears in many cultures and ages around the world. It's usually interpreted as a symbol of rebirth, representing the cycle of growth each spring. Many believe the Green Man developed independently in the traditions of separate ancient cultures and evolved into the wide variety of examples found throughout history. Green women are extremely rare that role usually being taken by the May Queen. Who, if folklore is to be believed, was put to death once the festivities were over.
I'm not sure in any of the above will inspire a new story, only time will tell, but I've uploaded a new short-story inspired by my last walk, The Shepherd's Mountain.