May Day: Monday May 1, 2006
In Oxford on May Morning, many pubs are open from sunrise, and some of the college bars are open all night. Madrigals are still sung from the roof of the tower of Magdalen College, with thousands gathering on Magdalen Bridge to listen. The last we heard, the bridge will be closed off due to many injured jumpers in 2005. But we're sure the revellers will gather as closely as they can, just in case there's the possibility of getting a jump in. We don't advise it here at Oxford City Guide. Why not go and listen to the music, and have fun without breaking bones? Then go have a nice breakfast somewhere, stagger home, and sleep the rest of the day. It is a bank holiday, afterall.

The Hymnus Eucharisticus,
composed in the 17th century by a Fellow of Magdalen
At 6am on May Day, listen to the choir sing The Hymnus Eucharisticus from the Great Tower at Magdalen College on High Street. If you want to sing along, here are the lyrics:

Te Deum Patrem colimus,
Te Laudibus prosequimus,
qui corpus cibo reficis,
coelesti mentem gratia.

Te adoramus, O Jesu,
Te, Fili unigenite,
Te, qui non dedignatus es
subire clautra Virginis.

Actus in crucem, factus est
irato Deo victima
per te, Salvator unice
vitae spes nobis rediit.

Tibi, aeterne Spiritus
cuius afflatu peperit
infantem Deum Maria,
aeternum benedicimus.

Triune Deus, hominum
salutis auctor optime,
immensum hoc mysterium
orante lingua canimus.

What's there to do on May Morning?