The Tradition They Tried to Erase – Hastings Jack in the Green Festival
In my latest video, I head to Hastings on May Bank Holiday Monday for one of Britain’s most beautiful and ancient traditions — the Hastings Traditional Jack in the Green Festival. Also known to many as the Green Man Festival.
While thousands of bikers roared into town for the famous May Day Run, I went in search of something older and deeper. The Jack in the Green is a towering figure made of fresh greenery, led through the historic Old Town by Morris dancers, Bogies, Black Sal and a sea of people dressed in green. It’s a living link to England’s past — a custom that dates back to the 17th and 18th centuries, nearly wiped out by Victorian disapproval, and brought back to life right here in Hastings in 1983.
This isn’t just a quirky folk festival. It’s a powerful reminder of the heritage we’re in danger of losing. When we change the character of our towns and cities too quickly, these ancient traditions don’t just fade — they disappear. The songs stop being sung. The green man stops walking the streets. And once they’re gone, they’re gone for good.
I was in Hastings to understand the history, the revival, and to experience the incredible atmosphere on the day, and why events like this matter more than ever if we want to keep Britain’s soul alive.
The Jack and the Green Festival is the first Week of May Every Year!
Do you think places like Bradford or Savile Town will ever see a Jack in the Green parade again? Let me know in the comments — I’d love to hear your thoughts.
If you love British history, folklore, and the fight to preserve our heritage, this one’s for you.
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Time Stamps:
00:00 - Intro
00:21 - Hastings Promenade
02:18 - The May Day Run - Motor Bikes Everywhere!
04:28 - Hastings Old Town - The Jack in the Green Festival
06:12 - How would you describe this to a person from Fiji?
06:58 - The Church & Paganism Side by Side
07:32 - Jack Presents Himself
10:02 - The Drummers
11:31 - The Jack in the Green Route
12:57 - How Many Parades Do They Need?
14:06 - What Does it Mean to You?
14:55 - We Are Failing Our Traditions
16:39 - Jack in the Green is Slain?
17:10 - Hastings Old Town Is Rammed
18:13 - An Interview with a Pirate
20:54 - The Packed Streets
22:12 - The Green Man
24:59 - Jack in the Green Blues
26:34 - A Family Day Out is Great For Business
28:32 - My Hotel Disaster
30:35 - Blues Montage
32:13 - Back with the Bikers For a Beer!
The Hotel I eventually stayed in was: The White Rock - https://booking.stay22.com/thewonderingenglishman/L7cah0yBhQ
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