Greenwich Easter Monday Lifting

Heaving or lifting used to be a common Easter custom countrywide, which has largely disappeared over time. Its origins are obscure but it usually involved teams lifting a member of the opposite sex high in the air on a chair, perhaps with demands for cash or kisses! Theories of a link with fertility rites or parodies of the resurrection are uncertain, but it was certainly frowned upon by the church ; frequently men were lifted by women on Easter Tuesday after the women had their turn on the Monday. As far as I’m aware, the only modern day revival of the custom is the one at Greenwich on Easter Monday, carried out by Blackheath Morris as their first outing of the year. The flower bedecked chair is brought forward after dancing displays and women are invited to sit in it whereupon they are lifted three times up to shoulder height and spun around before the men claim their reward of kisses. The dancing and lifting starts around noon and carries on all afternoon outside pubs throughout Greenwich (with a few breaks for refreshment of course!)

Helpful Hints

Head to the Blackheath Morris Facebook page/website to obtain a full timetable ( the full schedule appears relatively close to the day). Don’t panic if they arrive late – they’ll be running to Morris time….

In 2025 it should be on Monday April 21st. Below are the 2024 times for reference (the new schedule will be announce near the due date):

12.00 – Cutty Sark Gardens

13.00 – The Old Brewery

1 14:00 – The Trafalgar Tavern

15.00 – Outside the Greenwich Tavern

16.00- Final Dance outside The Ashburnham Arms

Click here for the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/blackheathmorris

and here for their website: https://www.blackheathmorris.com/

Thanks to Ross Parish for drawing my attention to this custom!