May Day -Begins the night before when the people of Padstow bring flags and greenery in from the surrounding countryside to decorate the streets of the town. Towards the break of dawn, a large maypole is planted in the square and groups of mayers spend the night going round the town singing and drumming the traditional tune which can be heard for miles around. At midnight, the mayers go to the Golden lion Inn, where the Old Oss is kept or stabled, and sing the first verse of the "Morning Song" before serenading the landlord and his wife.

Early in the morning a number of colt Osse's appear on the streets. These are smaller versions of the Old Oss, made by the children of the town. They appear and disappear at various points during the day.

10'Oclock-The blue ribbon Oss emerges from the Padstow Institute he has come on the scene since the First World war being the temperance oss' developed by the townspeople as an alternative to the drunkenness associated with the original.

11'Oclock.-the original Old Oss emerges from the Red Lion to the sound of drumming and accordion music. The Oss bounces up and down, dances and rushes, advancing through the streets while the white-clothed "teaser" prances in front of the beast. The red team are the supporters of the Old Oss.

The construction of the Oss's are unique. They are made up of a circular frame, around six feet in diameter, over which is stretched a shiny black oilskin, at the front of which is a small carving of a horse's head. The operator of stands in the middle, his legs obscured by the oilskin which hangs down from the edges of the frame. His head sticks out from the middle of the construction, but his face is covered by a pointed hat and a grotesque painted mask frightening in appearance.

At a curious break to the furious energy of the dance, at certain points the mood of the music will change, becoming slow and sad, at which point then Oss sinks to the ground, and the mayers begin to sing a song invoking St George. The teaser then slowly strokes the Oss with his club, and after aloud crescendo of drumming the creature leaps up and the dance begins again.

Both Oss's meet up at the square at the end of the day dance together. Then after the Farewell Song, the two Oss's are restored to their stables and Padstow puts away its wonderful tradition for another year.

Note. The Obby Oss song is changed a little each year.