The Montol Festival in Penzance which started in 2007 is a modern recreation of a winter solstice celebration, during which people guise dance with darkly painted skin or masks to disguise themselves.
Long before the controversy, Charlie Bate, a noted Padstow folk advocate, recounted that in the 1970s the content and conduct of the day were carefully reviewed to avoid potential offence.
Other researchers claim that the spirituals sung by followers of Blue 'Oss in advance of May Day originate in the groundswell of support for American black people that was extremely strong in areas of the UK where Methodism was predominant.
Among other events, this led to the Manchester textile workers voting to refuse to make uniforms for the Confederate Army during the American Civil War.
Regardless of its origins, the minstrel songs contributed to the recent controversy over the festival due to the association with black people, despite the face painting having no connection.