Procession and ceremony celebrate ancient Dame Goodyver Day

[dutchman]

Hundreds of people joined a procession through Coventry today to celebrate the medieval Dame Goodyver’s Day.



The ancient feast day is held to commemorate Lady Godiva’s death on September 10, 1067.

Today it’s seen as a celebration of the city’s diversity.

The Godiva Sisters - women from Coventry who represent the city’s ethnic and religious communities - led a procession from the Cathedral ruins through to Broadgate.

There were dance performances from local schoolchildren and community groups beside Lady Godiva’s statue, while multicultural food was handed around.

Pru Poretta, who organised the event, said: "This event is about saying that we are all Lady Godiva’s children, and we may be different, but we can work together in peace.

"It’s also a day where we celebrate strong women.

"Today’s not about whether or not Godiva took her clothes off, it’s about what we can do to make a difference to the future.

"This is the anniversary of something that happened 1,000 years ago, but it’s a very modern day, too."