The Final touches to the Corn Queen

She is truly magnificent this year, the Corn Queen's final touches are applied before the big day.  Apple festival at Borough Market last weekend, a celebration melding both Christian and Pagan traditions.

The event kicked of with the Harvest Thanksgiving service conducted by Southwark Cathedral and  accompanied by the Market's choir.

In true British fashion we were then treated to the quirky festivities probably adapted from past Pagan  rites.  The Green Man and Apple Queen led the procession into the market.

This is the Corn Queen's big moment, centre of the parade she trundles along in her trolley waving to the crowds. Flag waving, bell ringing and a bit of dancing they travel from Bankside to the market.

The afternoon is filled with story telling, conker fights, Morris Dancing (this has to be one of the quirkiest dances ever invented) and of course lots of apple tastings and cider drinking.

A Bit of Dancing

No English festival would be complete without the Morris Dancers.  These were the troop that kicked their heels up at the Apple festival.

Juno and Friend

The goddess Juno casting her magic and counsel at the apple day festival.

Apple Day

A relatively modern celebration, Apple Day, was first celebrated in 1990 in Covent Garden. Now it is celebrated every year throughout the country on the weekend closest to the 30th of October.

Characters from much older traditions are commonly found joining in this more modern festival. The GreenMan was spotted at Apple Day festivities yesterday at the Borough Market.  Over the next few days I'll introduce you to a few of the others I spotted celebrating the occasion.