What a wonderful and yet bizarre tradition. Up at 4.00 am, drive into Oxford to get a good spot and take some early photograps as the light breaks on the city.Students are drunk, or have just got up and are very serious. Police presence to stop the jumpers, but generally a wonderful atmosphere, and the groups of international research students steady the mood. And then just in time the locals pop out of the woodwork, ready to hear the choristers at the top of Magdalen bridge.
They sing three times, and there is a prayer and then the pealing of bells. A pagan festival that has been baptised in the traditions of the Church, and yet when I walk back to the car the pagans are peforming a most entertaining jig on the steps of the Bod!
A beautiful morning, and strangely I have to stem tears when the first chorus gets into full swing. Next time I know I won't have to get up so early!
No comments:
Post a Comment