Safe Rising

 

The obby oss is an intruder on the social 

calendar, 

unsanctioned and irregular he turns up
with the best of intentions but with no-one's agenda in mind.

This year though his wranglers are careful not to let him distract from the one occupying truth of the time. An audience- bigger than last year - are reminded of the need to look out for each other, to give each other space, to enjoy the oss and his flapping clacking jaw while masking their own.

The proceedings are recorded and sent instantly to an online party, the annual Furness Tradition Christmas do is being zoomed around the town. While the oss sends a flavour of the wintry night and the wet cobbles; the Human Organs pipe band and the ostler flit around, with their red jawa eyes and balefull oompah.

An electronic drone and the hums from the crowd combine in a performance of the Love Chorus music from fictitious composer Horse Badorties*.  Intoxicated by the fizzing signal from the amplified battery fan  and the christmas lights and  drizzle the oss evokes a raver's unconscious circuits.. there are birthday greetings for debutant organist Tom, a strenuous and confident rolling of the cymbal from volunteer Ben settles the nervous glances into camera and the final oration gives the bums rush to the year, ending as we began with a call for kindness and consideration. 

The oss is stabled now for the year, its new robes and headdress - supplied by its admirers- dried and folded. The following day's responses hail its cavorting as  Ulverston's Finest Christmas Tradition. Unsanctioned, irregular, and with the best of intentions, it will claim its space again next year. 

Main pic by Lindsay Ward, Photo below by Nat Tyson.Jacob Brown's Video documentation of the  Safe Rising is in the Ritual Exchanges archive. Excerpts here..

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aiLqvEVy9BCRcz8Iy8EBgeEsSnH_4FeW/view?usp=sharing

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