The earliest known reference to morris dancing is from the Burgundian court of 1427-28 for seven luxurious costumes 'propices à danser la morisque' ('suitable for dancing the morisque').
Have to agree with Wotsitorlabart. No historical evidence, only wishful, fanciful speculation, linking Morris dancing to pagan rituals. Traditional - yes,. Spectacle - yes,, Great fun - yes, goes well with beer - yes. Boosts my fertility - doubtful! Again, its not just for May but associated with all sorts of dates, including St Stephen's Day and Plough Monday, you can find it at all times around the country. We have just been involved with two Christmas lights switch ons this very week.
Morris dancing was originally a royal court dance and quite different from what we see today - the earliest reference dates from the late 1400's. So, nothing to do with pagans or fertility rites.
No links to paganism and Morris Dancing. Plenty to Christianity though, as stated above. Very old songs, tunes and dances which link to Christian festivals and Saints, bell ringing, work, soldiering and historical events, places they lived or the people from certain villages, but nothing about paganism, witches, odin, the lord and lady, freya, dancing windershins ect. Could you imagine openly dancing as a pagan act in the medieval times with all the hysteria of witchcraft ect? If anything it evolved into earning a bit of cash on the side. The reason why a hat gets passed around and why some sides blacked their faces, In case their employer was in the crowd or people they knew, so they wouldn't get recognised, as it would suggest that they don't get paid enough. Nothing wrong with all male sides as theres plenty of all female sides as well as mixed. Its all good. Nice video 👍🏻
The earliest known reference to morris dancing is from the Burgundian court of 1427-28 for seven luxurious costumes 'propices à danser la morisque' ('suitable for dancing the morisque').
Awesome video thanks ❤
🤗
Have to agree with Wotsitorlabart. No historical evidence, only wishful, fanciful speculation, linking Morris dancing to pagan rituals. Traditional - yes,. Spectacle - yes,, Great fun - yes, goes well with beer - yes. Boosts my fertility - doubtful!
Again, its not just for May but associated with all sorts of dates, including St Stephen's Day and Plough Monday, you can find it at all times around the country. We have just been involved with two Christmas lights switch ons this very week.
Morris dancing was originally a royal court dance and quite different from what we see today - the earliest reference dates from the late 1400's.
So, nothing to do with pagans or fertility rites.
No links to paganism and Morris Dancing. Plenty to Christianity though, as stated above. Very old songs, tunes and dances which link to Christian festivals and Saints, bell ringing, work, soldiering and historical events, places they lived or the people from certain villages, but nothing about paganism, witches, odin, the lord and lady, freya, dancing windershins ect. Could you imagine openly dancing as a pagan act in the medieval times with all the hysteria of witchcraft ect? If anything it evolved into earning a bit of cash on the side. The reason why a hat gets passed around and why some sides blacked their faces, In case their employer was in the crowd or people they knew, so they wouldn't get recognised, as it would suggest that they don't get paid enough. Nothing wrong with all male sides as theres plenty of all female sides as well as mixed. Its all good. Nice video 👍🏻
Read Mike Heaney's The Ancient English Morris Dance for the real, evidence-based history. ;-)