It’s May Day morning -
Help us dance up the sun!
(the Morris community’s answer
to "dancing 'till dawn")
Original image likely by Roberta Wackett
reproduced courtesy of EFDSS
Due to COVID-19 health concerns, some May Day celebrations have been cancelled, restricted, or changed to virtual gatherings. Please do not violate stay-at-home laws. We also recommend you contact your local team or event to confirm details (there are a lot of last-minute changes going on and we don't always get timely updates.
Morris dancers throughout North America and
England will gather together with their sticks, ribbons, bells,
hankies, and baldrics, for music and dance in our annual May Day
celebrations (this year Sunday, May 1st, 2022). We dance to
wake up the Sun and keep it coming back up for a whole year!
Besides being a great deal of fun, does this show dedication or
what?! You may have noticed that it works, too.
Be a part of it. Show up while it’s dark and watch the Sun make its
grand entrance. See the spectacle! Watch the magic!
Cheer the dancers! Join in the celebration! Wonder
why you’re up at this hour! Wear whatever you want, but bring
layers - it may be cold this early in the morning.
You may need to reach a specific team's contact (squire) directly to find out more about the local schedule.
Look for the
symbol - it means the latest info is we received was during 2022(but it still may not be current vis-Ã -vis COVID-19).
PACIFIC TIME ZONE
| Vancouver with
Vancouver Morris Men
and Tiddley Cove Morris |
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- 5:30 am Vancouver Morris Men and Tiddley Cove Morris dance up the dawn at Sparrow Fart in Trimble Park (West 8th Av & Trimble St) in West Point Grey , Vancouver, BC V6R 4G9
- Activities include a
Padstow style 'obby oss, the Helston Flora
dance, and an audience circle dance at the end.
- 7:00 am - Off to breakfast and seasonal singing in the park.
- For more information email or
: May Day 2016: To the Market - an original Tiddley Cove dance written by June Harman (Dance), Nini Ury (Music)
Drumbegger Border Morris will be dancing the May this year for 2nd time. Come out and support them! Be a part of history!
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Victoria with
Hollytree Morris,
Island Thyme Morris
, and
Quicksbottom Morris
Island Thyme Morris Quicksbottom Morris
Public celebrations cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions. Stay home and be safe!
Island Thyme dancing Skirmishes and in Eynsham
Quicksbottom dancing Duntze Head or Drowsy Maggie
Seattle, WA with
North by North West Morris,
Sound and Fury Morris,
The Mossyback Morris Men, and
Misty City Morris
North by Northwest
Sound and Fury
MossyBack Morris Men
Misty City Morris
- 5:30 am - Dancers will gather about 30 minutes before sunrise (5:52 am) at
Gas Works park
- South End (2101 N
Northlake Way, Seattle, WA 98103)
- Dancing will be on the southern most point of the park near the water. Don't be surprised if there's singing of May songs as well.
- Dancing continues until about 7:00 am.
- 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm - Performing at the Chuckanut Brewery in Burlington (11937 Higgins Airport Way, Burlington, WA 98233)
- For more information:
- North by North West - email the , call Libby 206-323-7519 or Judy 206-634-2535, or see their Facebook page
- Sound and Fury Morris - , or see our Facebook page
- MossyBack Morris - contact us
- Misty City Morris - or call 425-865-9368
See Sound and Fury's YouTube Channel including their 2020 virtual May Day
Portland, OR with
Bridgetown Morris Men
and Renegade Rose Morris
- 5:30 am Meet at Salmon Street Springs ( 1000 SW Naito Pkwy, Portland, OR 97204) near the fountain.
- 7:30 am Private teams' potluck breakfast at a location shrouded in mystery.
- 10:00 am Dancing at Director Park, (815 SW Park Av, Portland, OR 97205).
- 11:00 pm Lunch/pub stop at Rogue Hall, PSU campus (1717 SW Park Av, Portland 97221. Expect singing!
- 1:00 pm - Outside of
Chuckanut P. Nut Beer Hall (920
SE Caruthers, Suite A, Portland 97214)
- For more information, contact...
- Bridgetown Morris Men: see their Facebook page, or email
- Renegade Rose Morris: see their Facebook page, email or call 503-860-6611
Bridgetown Morris Men performing Abbotts Bromley, White Ladies Aston or Bampton Side Step
Renegade Rose Morris dancing The Idiot or Weavers March
Eugene, OR with
Two Rivers Morris
- 5:30 am - Dancing at the "Sun" bike-trail mile marker in
Alton Baker Park.
- We'll start with the Abbotts Bromley Horn Dance (while it's dark). We have some horns, but if you have your own, bring them! Then, before the sun starts to rise, we will dance 4-5 Border Morris dances..
- Coffee will be provided at the site.
- We will have breakfast at a local place immediately after dancing (Likely MANDY's in Eugene, around 6:30AM)
- For more information, check the team Facebook page, or contact .
Coos Bay, OR with
Side of the Tide
- 5:30 am to 6:30a - along the
Coos Bay Boardwalk, at
200 S
Bayshore Dr, Coos Bay, 97420. We dance at sunrise, enjoying the confused and sometimes delighted glances of passersby on US 101.
- 6:30 am - we head to the So it Goes Coffee house at
190 Central Av, Coos Bay, dance out front, then go in for coffee.
- For more information, see our webpage, or contact .
See us dancing Ragged Crow Check out our Covid friendly dances at Devil's Kitchen State Beach, Spring 2021
Sebastopol, CA with
Apple Tree Morris
- Yes, we are dancing May morning and folks will be able to watch us via Facebook and Instagram but we are not inviting people to the physical in-person location in Sebastopol.
- For more information, email , call 707-921-9338, or our
Facebook page.
Apple Tree Morris dancing Old Peculiar in 2013 and Huntress in 2017 
2018 May Day flyer
San Francisco, CA with
Goat Hill Morris
Berkeley, CA with
- 5:30 am - Gather at Inspiration Point, high up on Wildcat Canyon Road in Tilden Regional Park. Bring your coffee
- Noon - We'll be headed to Oakland Zoo along with other local Morris temas to participate in the California Revels Spring Celebration.
- For more information
Palo Alto, CA with Deer Creek Morris
and Kitchen Sink Molly
Santa Cruz, CA with
Seabright Morris and Sword and
White Rats Morris
We are doing a scaled down May Day, with no touching although most of the small bits of team that will show up will have been vaccinated by then.
- 6:00 am - For the 31st consecutive year, we meet at the Lighthouse, 701 on West Cliff Drive (take Hwy 1, turn on Bay St. towards the ocean, go all the way to the end, then right onto West Cliff Drive - leave extra time to find parking.
Santa Barbara, CA with
Pacific Sword Company as part
of the
May Day
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- 6:00 am - pursuing our annual tradition of sleeping in.
- 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm - Revels hosts its annual
May Day celebration at
Center Court of the
Paseo Nuevo Shopping Center on State Street in downtown Santa
Barbara. There's lots of spectacle and audience participation:
- Sing special Spring songs with Revels Songleader, Adam Phillips.
- Learn seasonal dances.
- Make flower garlads and nosegays.
- Enjoy performance by the Revels Dancers.
- Come join in the May Pole celebration and learn how to weave the ribbons 'round the pole.
- For more information, email .
Los Angeles, CA with
Rising Phoenix Morris
- 5:45 am - Venice Pier: use the parking lot at the
end of Washington Blvd (Ocean is the last main cross street) - in anticipation for the 6:00 am sunrise (you should be
able to find a Washington off-ramp from I-405 and head west).
- Breakfast is at the IHOP on Lincoln Bl afterwards.
- For more information email squire
San Diego, CA with
Moreton Bay Fig Morris
- Meet us before dawn at the top of Mount Soledad Park in La Jolla. Arrive early to hike up the hill.
- 5:45 am - Dance up the sun on Mount Soledad Cross
on Soledad Park Road
- 6:30 am - Breakfast at Harry's Coffee Shop, 7545 Griard Ave, in La Jolla
- Locations/Directions (directions are progressive):
- Mira Mesa and I15: Take I15 South to SR163. Keep Right on to SR163. Take the SR52 exit to go West. Go straight over I5 onto La Jolla Parkway. Turn Left at the Torrey Pines Road Intersection. Go up Hidden Valley Road until it T's into Via Capri. Turn Right onto Via Capri. Wind up the mountain until that T's into Soledad Road and La Jolla Scenic Drive. Turn left onto Soledad Road and drive through the gate, if it is open, or park if it is not.
- Soledad Mountain (From I5): Take Garnet West to Soledad Mountain Road. Turn Right/North on Soledad Mountain Road and go till it ends in a T. Turn Right onto La Jolla Scenic Drive. Drive into the Soledad Natural Park and look for morris dancers.
- To Harry's - (from Soledad Mountain): From the park head back down Via Capri
La Jolla Parkway and Torrey Pines Road. Go West on Torrey Pines Road, Left on Girard at the Von's. Harry's should be
right there on your left (across from the Von's Parking lot).
- For more information, email squire or check their
Facebook page.
MOUNTAIN TIME ZONE
Edmonton, AB with
Edmonton Magpie Morris
Come see these free performances from almost the only morris dancers in the Rocky Mountain Time Zone! You can thank us now - we
dance so you don't have to! For more information, email squire or call 303-870-8671
Magpie Morris Dancers teach a dance to the public, Beltane 2016
Billings, MT with Montana Morris
Denver, CO with
Maroon Bells Morris
Phoenix, AZ with
Photo by Raven Kline
- Due to a tear in the space-time continuum because Arizona doesn't do daylight savings time, we actually dance up the sun on Friday night, May 2. Go figure!
- 7:00 pm - We're (drinking and then) dancing at Phoenix's First Friday, staring at the The Lost Leaf (914 N 5th St), and then proceeding to dance in the surrounding blocks where the other First Friday events are.
- For more information (including directions), email or call 480-286-2122.
CENTRAL TIME ZONE
Minneapolis, MN with
Bells of the North,
Minnesota Traditional Morris,
and The Braggarts
 Bells of the North |
Minnesota Traditional Morris |
 The Braggarts |
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Madison, WI with
Oak Apple Morris
- 5:40 am - We're dancing the sun up in Law Park in Madison, WI, at the Boat Launch.
For more information, email squire or check our Facebook page
St. Louis, MO with
and The
Capering Roisters
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- For more information, email front person or call 314-560-2778
Chicago, IL with
Pullman Morris and Sword
Public celebrations cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions. Stay home and be safe!
- For more information, email or call 773-297-6714
EASTERN TIME ZONE
Marquette, MI with
Marquette Morris
- 6:00 am at the 2nd roadside pull off on M-28 as you leave Marquette (map). Dancing starts around 6:35 am.
Come join us as we dance up the sun on the beach, sing, enjoy conversation, coffee and community.
- For more information, email or call 906-458-2683
Burlington, VT with
On the Border Morris
- 5:30am - Meet at Camel's Hump overlook at
St. Michaels' College,
Route 15 in Colchester, VT
- For more information, email
Rockport, ME with Highland Mary Morris
- Sunrise - meet at Beech Hill, Rockport
(map), and
continue to Rockland town landing.
- For more information, email
Thetford, VT with
Four Corners Morris,
Green Mountain Morris,
Maple Leaf Morris,
Catamount Morris
Green Mountain Morris
Maple Leaf Morris
- 5:30am to 7:00am - Dance up the sun at the Thetford Village Green, Thetford Hill, VT
(exit 14 from I-91). Masks and social distancing required. Sometimes there's a Maypole as well. Breakfast usually follows (details at the event itself).
- This is "Motley Morris" at its best and anyone can participate. Sometimes there are different sets of a dance, each one in a
different style or "tradition".
- For more information, email or call 802-672-1244.
Watch Maple Leaf Morris as the sun peeks over the horizon on May Day 2010
Putney, VT with Windham
- Windham will climb Putney Mountain to watch dawn break at the summit.
- For more information, email squire
Watch Putney Mountain Morris on the mountain, May Day 2011 and at town hall, May Day 2012
Toronto, ON Canada with
Toronto Morris Men,
Toronto Women's Sword,
Orange Peel Morris,
Green Fiddle Morris,
Belles of York,
Cold Barn Morris,
Half Crown Clog, and others
Public celebrations cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions. Stay home and be safe!
Syracuse, NY with
Bassett Street Hounds,
and Thornden Morris
Check out Thornden's 2020 Mayday celebration on their
Nelson, NH with
Firebird and
Jack in the Green
- We'll be holding a teams-only private event this year.
- For more information email Firebird contact or Jack in the Green squire .
Albany, NY with
Pokingbrook Morris Dancers
Pokingbrook Morris has been dancing up the sun in Washington Park in Albany for 40 years.
Great Barrington, MA with
Wild Rose Garland Dancers
- THE DAY BEFORE the team perform at Berkshire Waldorf School (AKA the Great Barrington Rudolf Steiner School but the event is closed to the public due to Covid.
Ann Arbor, MI with
and sometimes The Quality
- 6:00 am to 7:30 am - Meet on the overlook down the high-road path from the Geddes street entrance to
Nichols Arboretum.
- Dancing starts around 6:15 am.
- We do Morris dances, traditional May songs, and always at least one audience participation dance.
- When that's done, we dance in the Diag in Ann Arbor, then go somewhere to breakfast and sometimes dance some more afterwards.
- For details on the day's schedule or other information, email the , or check out the team Meetup Group with this and many other events. We also have the option to join via Zoom. Email the squire for the link.
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Watch a video of Ann Arbor Morris |
Montague, MA with
Stick'n the Mist Border Morris
and a host of others.
Public celebrations cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions. Stay home and be safe!
Chesterfield, MA with
- There will be some gathering and dancing at "the usual location" but we're keeping it small due to Covid.
- For more information, email or call 413-325-4039.
Amherst (area), MA with Juggler Meadow Morris Men,
Johnny Jump Ups,
Hart's Brook Garland,
Marlboro Morris Men,
Wake Robin Morris,
and
And Sometimes Y Manx,Morris & Sword
Guiding Star Clog Morris
 Juggler Meadow Morris Men |
 Hart's Brook Garland Women |
 Wake Robin Morris |
 Rapscallion Rapper |
 And Sometimes Y |
- Dancing the sun up (around 5:00-6:00 am): Hart's Brook, Juggler Meadow, Johhny Jump Ups, and And Sometimes Y Manx, Morris & Sword at the Shutesbury Common.
- Wake Robin will have an attenuated celebration due to Covid somewhere
around Amherst.
- For more information, contact the team(s):
- And Sometimes Y, email or
- Guilding Star Clog Morris, email
- Hart's Brook, email
- Johnny Jump Ups, email
- Juggler Meadow, email or 413-320-9598
- Wake Robin Morris, email or call 413-834-8761
Wake Robin Morris dancing Nutting Girl as a jig for all of the team who went on the tour to England, at Stone Henge  July 2016.
Boston, MA with
Newtowne Morris Men and the
Country Dance Society - Boston Center hosting
Red Herring Morris,
Pinewood Morris Men,
Muddy River Morris,
Banbury Cross Morris,
Ha'Penny Morris,
and Bubble Rapper.
Newtowne Morris Men
Red Herring
Pinwoods Morris Men
Muddy River
Banbury Cross
Ha'Penny Morris
Public celebrations cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions. Stay home and be safe!
- For more information, email Newtowne's squire -
Watch the videos from May Day 2003 and May Day 2005
Red Herring performing Takking at NEFFA 2013
Binghamton,
NY with Binghamton
Morris Men and B. F. Haridans
Narragansett, RI with
Ladies of the Rolling Pin
The Ladies of the Rolling Pin is one of only a few all women's Border Morris dance teams. We have been stirring things up in Rhode Island since 1998 with just the right mix of leavening and levity. We never fail to get a rise out of audiences with a well-seasoned style, energy and music.
- 5:43 am - dance at dawn at the
Towers, at Narragansett Beach,
35 Ocean Road, Narragansett.
- For more information, email or check out their Facebook page
See their 2016 May Day flyer
New London, CT with
Westerly Morris Men and
Mystic Garland Dancers in separate locations
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Westerly Morris Men
- Westerly will dance at Connecticut College on the green, but all attendees will need to be on a list at the guard gate in advance.
Therefore it will be restricted to those who contact in advance.
Mask-wearing will be required while on campus. Dawn will be 5:45 am.
- Mystic Garland will have a few folk meet to dance at the Main Street Dock and Bridge. Dawn will be 5:45 am. Contact for more information.
See Mystic Garland'schannel
New Haven, CT with
New Haven Morris and Sword
- 5:40 am to 6:45 am - Edgerton Park in New Haven, corner of
Whitney Avenue and Cliff Street. If that entrance is closed, try the gate on Edgehill Road opposite Edgehill Terrace.
We dance on the Great Lawn in the center of the park.
- For more information, email or call 203-776-1812
Check out our 2008 ale video
Brooklyn, NY with
Ring O'Bells
- 5:45 am - Nellie's Lawn in
Prospect Park (meet at the Grand Army Plaza entrance to the park). Check out our incredibly
detailed map.
- 6:00 am - Maypole time - dig the hole, get the pole, make the ribbons!
- 6:45 am - Grab a ribbon and join the dance. The May Pole is an all-inclusive, multi-generational event. All are welcome. Bring
instruments if you'd like to play music, or songs to sing. Bring a short reading on a spring theme (animals
and children are great topics) if you would like to read something aloud after the May Pole dance.
- 7:15 am - Potluck picnic breakfast and Morris dancing.
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See Ring O' Bells on May Day 2006 |
New York City, NY with
Bouwerie Boys Morris Dancers
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Watch a video of Bouwerie Boys in action! |
Princeton, NJ May Day Celebrations Organized for nearly 40 years by
Millstone River Morris,
with guests
Mercer Maypole Dancers, Singers, & Padstow Hobby Horse Troupe
- 5:45 am - Our public celebration will be small in 2021. We'll be dancing distanced jigs and specially choreographed Morris at Princeton Battlefield, south side, at dawn (5:45 am) until about 6:30 am. We will also (distance-) sing in the May! No further touring during the day is planned, per COVID concerns.
- For more information, email
or call 609-240-6543
See Millstone River Morris on May Day 2009 See Millstone's May Day 2018 flyer
Philadelphia, PA with
Kingsessing Morris
and
Renegade Morris
For more information, email the squire for or
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See Kingsessing Morris do the dances Takking from May Day 2009 and
Devils Highway from May Day 2010 Check out 3 generations of Renegade Morris doing Steamfitters from May Day 2011 |
Shepherdstown, WV with
Shepherdstown Northwest Morris, Hicks with Sticks Border and others.
Watch folks Wrapping the MayPole on McMurran Lawn in 2012
Beware the Padstow Horse from 2008
Bloomington, IN with
- For more information, contact or call 812-325-0993.
Watch the team's 2009 May Day Winster processional
Washington, DC with
Foggy Bottom Morris Men
hosting Rock Creek Morris Women,
and Sligo Creek Sword
Foggy Bottom Morris Men
Rock Creek Morris Women
Sligo Creek Sword
- 6:11 am - Dance up the sun at Alexandria Waterfront Dock, behind the
Torpedo Factory Art Center (105
N Union St, Alexandria, VA)
- 7:15 am - Dance: Market Square (300 King St).
- 8:00 am to 9:30 am - Brunch: Augie's Mussel House (1106 King St).
- 10:00 am - Dance: King Street Gardens Park (1806 King St).
- 11:00 am - Dance: John Carlyle Square (300
John Carlyle St).
- 12:00 pm - Pub Stop: Lost Boy Cider (317 Hoofs Dr).
- For more information, contact, email Foggy Bottom's or check out our Facebook event .
Check out our 2009 May Day slideshow of Takoma Park
Untitled Document Public celebrations cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions. Stay home and be safe!
Albemarle Morris Men
Untitled Document
- 6:30 am - Please come watch us on the lawn of Union Church, located at 200 Prospect St, Berea KY, on the side facing Boone Tavern. Sunrise is 6:40 am. Free and open to all. We will not be doing a Maypole this time, will return to do one at the end of May. We are doing one Cotswold dance, two country dances, one rapper, one Border dance.
- Afterwards we go inside for breakfast, and then a private dance at the house where we danced last May Day during the pandemic (they requested us back this year).
- If you can’t join us in person, look for the live stream video to the Facebook timeline of Bryson William Carlberg.
- For more information, email or call (859) 985-5501.
Rapa Bora dancing on May Day at dawn and at their second stop at Laura's
Untitled Document Public celebrations cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions. Stay home and be safe!
For further info, and check out the team Facebook page.
- Ashgrove Garland and Asheville Morris will be dancing on May 1 beginning at 7:30 am at the Tanbark Ridge Overlook (milepost 376.8) on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville.
- For more information, email Ashgrove's squire or check with Asheville's Morris contact (or their Facebook page)
Untitled Document
- Knowning better than to get up early, the Brasstown Morris teams attend the May Day parade and performance at the John C. Campbell Folk School (1 Folk School, Brasstown, NC 28902)
- MEETING APRIL 30 - 11:15 am meet at Festival Barn
- 11:45 am - Parade thru camp to the Maypole in front of Davidson Hall.
- For more information, contact Ted Cooley, Music & Dance Coordinator for the John C. Campbell Folk School, at 828-837-2775.
Untitled Document
- 06:45 am to 8:00 am - We "dance the sun up" at the Baughman Meditation Center on the west shore Lake Alice on the University of Florida campus. It's located at the SE corner of Museum Rd and Radio Rd (982 Museum Rd, Gainsville, FL 32461). Dances to be chosen by random drawing, and finishing up with a maypole dance for all. BRING A FEW FLOWERS and VINES for the Annual May Day Flower Float Regatta.
- 8:30 am to 10:00 am - team breakfast at Peach Valley Cafe (3275 SW 34th St, Gainsville, FL)
- 10300 am to 11:30 am - Dance performance at sinkhole at Devil's Millhopper State Park (4732 Millhopper Rd, Gainsville, FL)
- 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm - Dancing performance at Biven's Arm Nature Park (3650 S Main St., Gainsville, FL)
For more information, check the team Facebook page or email squire
See Greenwood in action on the team's
What IS Morris Dancing?
Morris dancing is a living tradition of English celebratory and ritual dance with live music, and origins shrouded in mystery and the mists of time. Shakespeare used it in his plays and it was old then. The dancers usually wear bells at their knees and often wave hankies (to attract and welcome benevolent spring and summer spirits) or clash sticks (symbolizing the eternal battle between winter and summer), and the dances have traditionally been performed around the time of major celebration or seasonal cross points in the calendar. Indeed, dances of comparable form and dancers in similar costumes are found elsewhere in Europe and around the world, and may be thought to be part of the universal urge to influence and honor the unknowable forces which govern our lives.
One of the most colourful descriptions of morris was provided in the 15th century, by Edmund, Duke of Edinburgh, the Black Adder who said, "Morris dancing is the most fatuous, tenth-rate entertainment ever devised by man. Fourty effeminate blacksmiths waving bits of cloth they've just wiped their noses on. How it's still going on in this day and age I'll never know."
Modern morris includes several different types of dance, all from different regions of England; Cotswold Morris from the south, Border Morris from the west, Molly Dancing from the southeast, and Northwest Morris from (yes, you guessed it!) the northwest. Other dance styles such as Longsword, Rapper (sword), Clog, and Garland are often included in the term "morris".
There are lots of ways to get more detail about Morris dancing, but the absolutely best way is to find a morris dancer, take them to a pub, offer them refreshment, and ask for the real story. It's guaranteed good luck, too!
Morris team logos copyright the respective teams, used with permission
Last update April 30, 2022
All rights reserved. Do not cite or reproduce without permission, except for personal use.
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