@Jkinsg92 I think Jonah Lomu said that it (i.e. his belief that there had been some disrespect) spurred him on to beat England that day. I doubt that he or NZ needed any extra motivation, or that there was any intentional disrespect anyway.
There are Morris dancers all over the UK. The flowers are because they're associated with the coming of spring and fertility. Often on festival days they're accompanied by the green man or , in Padstow for example the Obby Odd ( Bobby horse). All associated with pagan spring/ fertility sites etc.
I used to live in Banbury. The Morris dancers used to practice in the market square while as evangelical preacher was giving a sermon. One summer as I remember he began giving the group numerous nasty looks, though they never did anything that warranted any negativity.
A fine old British tradition though often mocked as anachronistic like many folk customs. Someone cruelly observed that only uncircumcised men are allowed to be Morris dancers, because only complete pricks would want to take part.
Where I grew up there were two Morris troups. They’d both have their annual pub crawl on the same day, starting at either end of town. Sometime around about 5pm they’d meet in the middle, and fuelled by a solid day’s drinking and the sight of their mortal enemies, the annual fight would start.
Folk traditions from around the World are revered and great efforts are made to protect and preserve them. However Morris dancing is English, and traditionally was performed by men, so has to be ridiculed by the woke. Frankly, people involved in Morris don't give a stuff for what the woke think. Also, these days, there are female and mixed Morris dance sides.
Yeah, I know, and that female interviewer was so condescending and rude which isn't unusual since that kind of attitude is used for anything that is traditionally English.
Flemish is form of Dutch spoken in Belgium, there was substantial netherlandic migration into England in the middle ages and possibly Morris dancing came over with these people.The people here were performing a Lancashire variation,but were actually a Kentish group. Not all of the costumes used in Morris Dancing are as 'Flamboyant' as those employed by this particular group.
look up more morris dancing its very physical ,lots of routines , swords sticks men and women ,watch a whole show its very entertaining ,the clip you watched was not a good example
The Flemish people are the inhabitants of Flanders which is the most populated area of Belgium. Brussels, the HQ of the EU, is in Flanders. The people have their own Flemish language which is their first language and I believe some do not have a second language, although Dutch and French are also spoken in Belgium. Flemish weavers were encouraged to settle in England by King Edward 111 to expand the English cloth industry, and no doubt brought their culture with them. You may have heard of Worstead woolen cloth, often used for mens suits. It takes its name from Worstead in Norfolk where the first immigrant Flemish weavers settled in the 16th. century.
A few years ago I was in Leeds with my gaughter in law (an American) and we came across a Morris dancing competition. One team had black face. She was stunned. I explained that in the old days some dances were performed outside the homes of unpopular rich people.To taunt them. In mining areas dancers would apply coal dust to their faces so they couldn't be identified and sacked.
You have to be there to see/get the mood of the event. Its part of the pastoral english village rituals that glued communities together. It's not about fantastic dancing, although top groups are very impressive. There is no evidence that this comes from 'moorish influence', although the origin of the word is vague. An interesting note: www.rattlejagmorris.org.uk/history-of-morris-dancing. Good to hear your views.
Does anyone remember a music video from about 10 years ago, that featured morris dances in a village green. I think the musical group was comprised of three women. At one point in the video a congo of a dozen or more morris dancers disappeared into a red telephone box in the centre of the village.
I found it *(should have checked sea pea's comment) "Stealing Sheep - Apparition". Abbingdon Traditional Morris Dancers dancing in Turville, Buckinghamshire.
@@seapea7402 Oh heck - Ta sea pea! I wish I'd refreshed this page earlier. I spent 50 minutes searching until I found an article in a newspaper, the Oxford Mail, talking about a Morris Dance group featuring in a pop video. Dunno why I thought it was 10 years ago.
@@seapea7402 Yeah I think it's a really clever video. I thought of it because some of the dancers do so acrobatics. Unusual in Morris Dancing ... but thought it might impress the Postmodern Family.
It's gone on for hundreds of years, some say it has origins in Morocco, which some say resulted in one or more of the dancers having a blacked up face. Some say it's pagan in origin. I remember at school one of my mates rushing in on a Monday morning staying, "you"ll never guess what I saw at the weekend!" He had been at a fete at another school and saw our English teacher Morris dancing. He was a typical corduroy jacket/hush puppy wearing mid 30s teacher of the time. In the era of Punk Rock and Heavy Metal, Morris Dancing was seriously uncool. Lesson starts. Silence as the teacher dishes out text books. A voice from the back, "Did you have a good weekend, Sir?" Teacher : "Yes, thank you" Another boy: "Did you do anything interesting, Sir?" Teacher: "Not really" Another boy: "Are you sure, Sir?" Teacher becoming suspicious and irritated at the line of questioning: NO!" Pause Original boy: "Do you like dancing, Sir?" Uncontrolled hysteria from the class, Teacher authority now in tatters. Teacher slamming books down, purple in the face, lesson ruined with continued "innocent and good natured" questioning throughout. He took stick (pun intended) for the rest of our and his time there.
I have a pair of Lancashire clogs which sit next to my indoor garden. They are a leather boot with a wooden sole, steel toe caps and leather laces. To protect the sole from wear ' Irons' were nailed underneath the edge of the sole. These ' Irons' look just like horse shoes but lighter in weight. I wore my clogs when I was in my early twenties for work in a factory during the early 1970's. In the winter, when leaving work, we would run along the stone pavements in the street outside the factory, then stop. The result was that we continued by sliding along leaving sparks flying . ( They also made a lot of noise which meant you couldn't creep up on anyone.) A picture of a very similar pair can be found on Google Images.....'Pair of antique 19th. century Lancashire clogs '........
No one knows for certain the origins of Morris Dancing. It may well have its roots in rites celebrating fertility and the coming of spring. Dancers would blacken their faces with soot so they would not be recognised The earliest known and surviving English written mention of Morris dance is dated to 1448 and records the payment of seven shillings to Morris dancers by the Goldsmiths' Company in London. Further mentions of Morris dancing occur in the late 15th century, and there are also early records such as bishops' "Visitation Articles" mentioning sword dancing, guising and other dancing activities, as well as mumming plays. organised by the local priest, and would resemble "Moors". This gave rise to "Moorish Men" or "Moorish dancers" and hence to Morris.
I dispute the Wiki description of it's origins as "Moorish dance" because the dancing has roots well before the Normans invaded and has so many different styles depending on where you go. People only say it's from the 15th century because it was the first time it was ever mentioned in writing and that's when the elite of society expressed any interest in it; it's not unreasonable to suggest that it had been around for far longer in the lower classes hence why it was so widespread in the 15th century. In Anglo-Saxon England there were weapon dances mostly with swords, which we still see today in Morris dancing, and that probably evolved into the stick bashing that we see today in a lot of other modern Morris dancing. I don't know how they equate Morris with Moors; there is no connection for me and just seems like it's a convenient answer rather than a proper one. On the wiki it said that it was also called Morisk/Moreys/Morisse which to me sounds like it's more Welsh or Irish sounding.
For thousands of years, it was men that dressed up and in dresses in make up with wigs, right up to the 18th century, and what made the switch to drab, was women started dressing up to compete, so men cut their hair and dress casually or formally in simple affairs... Its was the Persians that used high heels in cavalry, to stay in the stirrup, it was the French Kings that made it a style, one was a bit short... As Women are doing it again and copying men in their attire, men may again switch back to peacock... Then again some of us already are :D
Some well known wit (who I can't remember) once said: "You should experience everything in life at least once apart from incest and Morris dancing." How very true.
There is a theory that the name derives from "Mary's Men", There was a cult that started around the virgin Mary , it is still very strong in southern France. The flowers in there hats and the silver bells on their clogs and the rattles on their sticks (which originally where cockle shells) as echoes of the nursery rhyme Mary, Mary quite contrary how does your garden grow, with cockle shells and silver bells and pretty maids all in a row.
Off topic I know but Flemish is the language of the Flanders region which is mainly in Belgium and was where some of the bloodiest battles of WW1. Check out the poem "In Flanders Fields" by Major John McCrae (Canadian Army).
Hi Lillian & Felipe, the 1st time I came across Morris Dancing, was probably on a Benny Hill show in the late `60`s, that did include ladies. The next time was in a Classic Who story with the 3rd Dr., it involved the traditional village version performed as a Spring festival. The centrepiece was a Maypole which had coloured streamers attached to the top, which they held onto whilst dancing in & out & round & round the maypole. The next time was in one of the Two Ronnie`s musical sketches. In all these versions women were involved, I always got the impression it was more of a West Country village event.
We used to get them come into our pub in summer to dance. Then they went off to the next one. Was nice to see. Almost like a scene out of The Wicker Man.
Two suggestions for you.Both are very British traditions.The Heston Flora day Cornish dance that's hundreds of years old.The Trooping the Colour which the Queen attends an opportunity to see British redcoats in their yearly parade.Its a massive tourist attraction.
Why do you think dance should be IMPRESSIVE? Dance is ubiquitous in EVERY culture, and I really hate the idea that it has to be professionalised. It's about participation. Watching it on TV is the WRONG way to experience it anyway. Can't believe you're questioning the idea that men should be allowed to dress up. Thought you were 'post modern! Lots of women take part these days anyway. BTW I'm not and have never been a Morris Dancer.
You have to remember dance is just a way of moving and very old dance is just walking around to a beat, or some sort of music. modern dancing is alot different to how it started, so how impressive it is to modern people does not matter. Like all things dancing has changed and in 300-400 years from now, people will look back and look at how we dance now and think its not impressive and weird too.
Napoleon didn't invent high heels. You're probably thinking of Louis XIV, but they have a practical origin in being suitable for horse riding and keeping your feet in the stirrups. Cowboy boots are the same.
Knowledge of the original Morris [ Moorish ] dancing was lost centuries ago. The current bilge was resurrected in about 1910 by a Frenchman who wanted the English to be made to look ridiculous. He succeeded.
Not the best clip of Morris dancers, 1448 was the first recorded dance and is meant to welcome the summer in. Unfortunately a 2 minute 1970s clip of a complete doughnut of a reporter trying to get a laugh is not something to Make an opinion of a very old English tradition. By the way love you guys.
I would say that was a really bad example of Morris dancing to watch! Normally they either swing white hankies around or knock sticks together, have bells on their shins and don't wear clogs as clog dancing is a separate folk dance in the UK. The most common instrument used is usually the D/G melodeon (which I play, but haven't done for Morris dancers before, though I do play Morris tunes). Those dancers were also pretty lame, if you ask me and didn't do any yelling to accompany their dancing! Women can join now. Though some men don't agree with this, it was voted on and the result was to accept women. I would pronounce Lancashire, Lankuhsheer, so with an A, but not shire or or shur!
You could, of course--Oh ! you are doing what I was going to suggest you do, check online. THIS wasn't the most technical you could ask for. There are contests to prove the point. Many groups are larger, have their own dress designs, have bells sewn around the knees etc etc , and also carry large clapper bells, sometimes accompanied by accordions and othe instruments. Plain Clog-dancing is still very much alive in northern cities and towns. Clog-dancing on Naval Sailing ships, went back centuries. You have hardly scratched the surface. This filmed ''report ? is typically mocking, but does not undermine true lover's of the dance.
Pagan based. Multiple Morris styles according to geographical area., some of which quite violent to watch. Don't judge by watching an old tv interview.
www.coconutters.co.uk Felipe wins On Lancashire Or Lancs if you want to be informal (Could do a Mini quiz On The counties that are Shortened in UK writing/talk There are about 10 to discover ) Young Girls have their own Dancing Troupes and they parade on the Church Parade /town carnivals (Eastertime) Thankfully they are not expected to graduate as Cheer leaders
Ahh my namesake dancing. Def Flemish (Belgian) roots. When William the Conqueror 'settled' in UK a lot of his Flemish Lords also settled here with him and he built castles for them so they and their armies would be protected from the marauding English and Welsh who wanted them out. The roots of Morris dancing comes from Flemish influence originally hence the clogs and as far as it not being very athletic dances were very simple then so everyone could do it. You would never see the Tudor Court doing the Jitterbug, it wasn't seen as seemly to throw yourself around unless you were from the circus. As inhibitions waned so did clothing and movements in dance. I thought you would've approved to be honest, not a bit of flesh in sight and very sedate lol.
The shoes are clogs. You should look up some longsword dancing,and clog dancing. Morris was originally to drive away evil spirits and this was a fairly poor example.
I always think, when the All Blacks rugby team do their Haka, a threatening display of aggression (started by the Moaris, I think), the English team should do a Morris dance in reply, to take the piss out of the All Blacks.
I don't think they are dancing to impress anyone, they enjoy keeping up tradition, some say its a fertility dance. don't forget 500 years ago entertainment was limited, the only excitment was war and adventure.
Morris dancers were considered to be a bit dangerous in centuries past, it wasn't as we think of it today ie , a bit of a laugh , these guys were Rock and Roll , they were young virile men who would have taken great offence if they were thought to be effeminate in any way , they weren't, the English male in particular was quite different from the reserved caracature that is portrayed throughout the world, for most of the last 1500 years he has been anything but reserved, but certain types and times in history this belief has held sway. The English couldn't have had the history it has if we had always been as we sometimes appeared , other countries threatened we just did . We didn't threaten to burn the White House down we just did, we even went to war because an English man had his ear cut off, our history is littered with staggering actions, we were anything but reserved in action but we didn't feel the need to trumpet our achievements, we were modest in general but not necessarily reserved, there's a difference. I know this has little to do with the video really but I thought I'd try to explain that the caricature of English men in particular throughout history is wide of the mark. Ps Flemish is a mixture of Belgian and Dutch people and I don't condone Burning the White House or many other incidents in our history I was just making the point that we were bold and would take on anyone if we thought we were in the right, we were confident some of us still are regardless of age .
They are now for the most part, although there are still some Morris sides still firmly against women being involved because it's not traditional. Without women Morris Dancing could be in trouble today I think.
To be honest the team you played were not so hot. Some are so much more. PS. The vest is a "waistcoat" the "suspenders" are Braces. Oh! By the way, it would be rare to find a bricklayer or a coal miner. And again, it's "Lankisha"
The term "Morris Dancing" is a corruption of Moorish dancing.... copying dances and costumes from the Moors hundreds of years ago. Flemish comes from Belgium. Pansy used to be non-PC slang for being gay!
I always used to wish we had some cool dancing like Irish dancing but no us English got stuck with grown men with bells on their shins prancing about like fairy elephants waving hankies or sticks about 🤣🤣🤣🤣
"...the drummer beat the drum a few times and the accordionist played a long drawn-out chord, the legal sign that a Morris Dance is about to begin, and people who hang around after this have only themselves to blame."
Lol were ever your finding your info but it's way off .. its notin to do with moors who were Arabs.. its traditional dance may day the May pole and Morris dancing are all in tandem
Do you ever think about how smelly people were in medieval times like the 1980s? And they didn't even realise how smelly they were because everyone was smelly!
I'm neither impressed with the costume or the dance. However there is something very English and ridiculous about which makes me want to join a troop. The beer drinking would be a bonus to. Sadly we don't have one near me.
I hate bloody Morris dancers as my surname is Morris.Prancing about with their bells around their ankles. My wife and I once went shopping in our city centre and we heard some bells jingling behind us,I thought " bloody Morris dancers",I turned round and it was a couple of Buddhists 🤣🤣🤣.
there are a lot better videos on youtube which will give you a better under standing ,this dance was very slow and did not have some of the characters which you see the programme looks like late 60s or early 70s
I really think if you are going to mock someone else's traditions it is far better rather than look at something for just a couple of minutes then come to a conclusion, look at it properly. How about Hawaiian Tradition where men wear Flowered Headwear or American Native people who wear feathers and paint their faces. How about watching an Olympic sport for the first time thinking and after a couple of minutes come to some conlusion what's the point in that they are only running.
@@ThePostmodernFamily No, but I appreciate the importance of traditions that are sadly being eroded from all around the World. I went into one of the larger towns nearby some years ago to shop. There was a big festival and gathering of Morris Dancers from all over the UK and possibly further. Was surprised to see and discover my old Woodwork Teacher from my School years Mr Sunderland was the top UK Morris Dancer. The dancing was very wide ranging and the town was packed, the Hobby Horse costumes were spectacular and as the day went on learnt more and appreciated what it was all about. Ended up staying in the town until the evening and was a great day out. One of our local Pubs in the town I live in is a stopping point for Steam Traction Engines and they had a Morris Dancing event. Just to add yes women do dance as well. It supports the local communities and is innocent affordable fun that takes up no room and where everyone has a good time. Different traditional World cultures is something we should be applauding and learn by, not a World where everything is exactly the same. I've witnessed it myself in my own town where local traditional events that get people including families out and meet each other. Thousands raised for charities, then once they have gone they have then gone forever. Also important when local events die out people become more distant.
This was a very basic dance. there are groups around the country that have better dance programmes. It is nation wide and as far as I recall, depends much on the seasons and seems to have a more pagan base in England.
The England rugby team should perform a Morris dance, in response to New Zealand's Haka.
@Jkinsg92 I think some England players tried that before the 1995 World Cup semi-final.
Didn't turn out too well...
@Jkinsg92 I think Jonah Lomu said that it (i.e. his belief that there had been some disrespect) spurred him on to beat England that day.
I doubt that he or NZ needed any extra motivation, or that there was any intentional disrespect anyway.
Jon Cole don’t think performing a fertility dance to a bunch of hairy arsed Maori would intimidate them much.
There are Morris dancers all over the UK. The flowers are because they're associated with the coming of spring and fertility. Often on festival days they're accompanied by the green man or , in Padstow for example the Obby Odd ( Bobby horse). All associated with pagan spring/ fertility sites etc.
A tradition that has existed for hundreds of years in this country.It is sometimes subject to ridicule but the Morris men take it very seriously
well half seriously….they like to laugh at themselves once in a while
Its based on folk dancing from hundreds or even more years ago - villages used to have their own patterns
It's a pagan ritual that follows the seasons of the year
I used to live in Banbury. The Morris dancers used to practice in the market square while as evangelical preacher was giving a sermon. One summer as I remember he began giving the group numerous nasty looks, though they never did anything that warranted any negativity.
A fine old British tradition though often mocked as anachronistic like many folk customs. Someone cruelly observed that only uncircumcised men are allowed to be Morris dancers, because only complete pricks would want to take part.
🤣🤣🤣
"Uncircumcised"? What a ridiculous word. It's like saying "unamputated". Having all your body parts is the norm in most of the world.
Where I grew up there were two Morris troups. They’d both have their annual pub crawl on the same day, starting at either end of town. Sometime around about 5pm they’d meet in the middle, and fuelled by a solid day’s drinking and the sight of their mortal enemies, the annual fight would start.
Folk traditions from around the World are revered and great efforts are made to protect and preserve them. However Morris dancing is English, and traditionally was performed by men, so has to be ridiculed by the woke. Frankly, people involved in Morris don't give a stuff for what the woke think. Also, these days, there are female and mixed Morris dance sides.
Yeah, I know, and that female interviewer was so condescending and rude which isn't unusual since that kind of attitude is used for anything that is traditionally English.
on this issue alone, the woke have it right, it is ridiculous garbage. That most of these dancers sport beards speaks volumes.
Flemish is form of Dutch spoken in Belgium, there was substantial netherlandic migration into England in the middle ages and possibly Morris dancing came over with these people.The people here were performing a Lancashire variation,but were actually a Kentish group.
Not all of the costumes used in Morris Dancing are as 'Flamboyant' as those employed by this particular group.
Flemish is Belgium, but that was part of the Frisianlands. English is the nearesst to Frisian language..
look up more morris dancing its very physical ,lots of routines , swords sticks men and women ,watch a whole show its very entertaining ,the clip you watched was not a good example
The Flemish people are the inhabitants of Flanders which is the most populated area of Belgium. Brussels, the HQ of the EU, is in Flanders. The people have their own Flemish language which is their first language and I believe some do not have a second language, although Dutch and French are also spoken in Belgium. Flemish weavers were encouraged to settle in England by King Edward 111 to expand the English cloth industry, and no doubt brought their culture with them. You may have heard of Worstead woolen cloth, often used for mens suits. It takes its name from Worstead in Norfolk where the first immigrant Flemish weavers settled in the 16th. century.
A few years ago I was in Leeds with my gaughter in law (an American) and we came across a Morris dancing competition. One team had black face. She was stunned. I explained that in the old days some dances were performed outside the homes of unpopular rich people.To taunt them. In mining areas dancers would apply coal dust to their faces so they couldn't be identified and sacked.
You have to be there to see/get the mood of the event. Its part of the pastoral english village rituals that glued communities
together. It's not about fantastic dancing, although top groups are very impressive.
There is no evidence that this comes from 'moorish influence', although the origin of the word is vague.
An interesting note: www.rattlejagmorris.org.uk/history-of-morris-dancing.
Good to hear your views.
Where do you think your tap dancing and soft shoe shuffle comes from?.
Does anyone remember a music video from about 10 years ago, that featured morris dances in a village green. I think the musical group was comprised of three women. At one point in the video a congo of a dozen or more morris dancers disappeared into a red telephone box in the centre of the village.
Yes, a very creative video for 'Apparition' by the wonderful Stealing Sheep. Here's a link:
ruclips.net/video/xFWGrNR_mog/видео.html
I found it *(should have checked sea pea's comment) "Stealing Sheep - Apparition". Abbingdon Traditional Morris Dancers dancing in Turville, Buckinghamshire.
@@seapea7402 Oh heck - Ta sea pea! I wish I'd refreshed this page earlier. I spent 50 minutes searching until I found an article in a newspaper, the Oxford Mail, talking about a Morris Dance group featuring in a pop video. Dunno why I thought it was 10 years ago.
@@seapea7402 Yeah I think it's a really clever video. I thought of it because some of the dancers do so acrobatics. Unusual in Morris Dancing ... but thought it might impress the Postmodern Family.
Great Video Presentation! ..Guys you have to there to see them dance for real !!...It's very Traditional in this Country 🌻🍀🌹🌻🍀🍁🍀🍁🍀🍁🍀🌻🌼
It's gone on for hundreds of years, some say it has origins in Morocco, which some say resulted in one or more of the dancers having a blacked up face.
Some say it's pagan in origin.
I remember at school one of my mates rushing in on a Monday morning staying, "you"ll never guess what I saw at the weekend!"
He had been at a fete at another school and saw our English teacher Morris dancing. He was a typical corduroy jacket/hush puppy wearing mid 30s teacher of the time.
In the era of Punk Rock and Heavy Metal, Morris Dancing was seriously uncool.
Lesson starts. Silence as the teacher dishes out text books.
A voice from the back, "Did you have a good weekend, Sir?"
Teacher : "Yes, thank you"
Another boy: "Did you do anything interesting, Sir?"
Teacher: "Not really"
Another boy: "Are you sure, Sir?"
Teacher becoming suspicious and irritated at the line of questioning: NO!"
Pause
Original boy: "Do you like dancing, Sir?"
Uncontrolled hysteria from the class, Teacher authority now in tatters. Teacher slamming books down, purple in the face, lesson ruined with continued "innocent and good natured" questioning throughout.
He took stick (pun intended) for the rest of our and his time there.
Monty python doing the fish slapping dance, now that's class.
I have a pair of Lancashire clogs which sit next to my indoor garden. They are a leather boot with a wooden sole, steel toe caps and leather laces. To protect the sole from wear ' Irons' were nailed underneath the edge of the sole. These ' Irons' look just like horse shoes but lighter in weight. I wore my clogs when I was in my early twenties for work in a factory during the early 1970's. In the winter, when leaving work, we would run along the stone pavements in the street outside the factory, then stop. The result was that we continued by sliding along leaving sparks flying . ( They also made a lot of noise which meant you couldn't creep up on anyone.) A picture of a very similar pair can be found on Google Images.....'Pair of antique 19th. century Lancashire clogs '........
Oh no, a reaction to Morris dancing...I've been dreading this😔
Morris dancing is fantastic but you really need to see a live performance from a good troop. The music is also worth hunting down.
No one knows for certain the origins of Morris Dancing. It may well have its roots in rites celebrating fertility and the coming of spring. Dancers would blacken their faces with soot so they would not be recognised The earliest known and surviving English written mention of Morris dance is dated to 1448 and records the payment of seven shillings to Morris dancers by the Goldsmiths' Company in London. Further mentions of Morris dancing occur in the late 15th century, and there are also early records such as bishops' "Visitation Articles" mentioning sword dancing, guising and other dancing activities, as well as mumming plays. organised by the local priest, and would resemble "Moors". This gave rise to "Moorish Men" or "Moorish dancers" and hence to Morris.
I dispute the Wiki description of it's origins as "Moorish dance" because the dancing has roots well before the Normans invaded and has so many different styles depending on where you go. People only say it's from the 15th century because it was the first time it was ever mentioned in writing and that's when the elite of society expressed any interest in it; it's not unreasonable to suggest that it had been around for far longer in the lower classes hence why it was so widespread in the 15th century. In Anglo-Saxon England there were weapon dances mostly with swords, which we still see today in Morris dancing, and that probably evolved into the stick bashing that we see today in a lot of other modern Morris dancing. I don't know how they equate Morris with Moors; there is no connection for me and just seems like it's a convenient answer rather than a proper one. On the wiki it said that it was also called Morisk/Moreys/Morisse which to me sounds like it's more Welsh or Irish sounding.
For thousands of years, it was men that dressed up and in dresses in make up with wigs, right up to the 18th century, and what made the switch to drab, was women started dressing up to compete, so men cut their hair and dress casually or formally in simple affairs...
Its was the Persians that used high heels in cavalry, to stay in the stirrup, it was the French Kings that made it a style, one was a bit short...
As Women are doing it again and copying men in their attire, men may again switch back to peacock... Then again some of us already are :D
Some well known wit (who I can't remember) once said: "You should experience everything in life at least once apart from incest and Morris dancing." How very true.
There is a theory that the name derives from "Mary's Men", There was a cult that started around the virgin Mary , it is still very strong in southern France. The flowers in there hats and the silver bells on their clogs and the rattles on their sticks (which originally where cockle shells) as echoes of the nursery rhyme Mary, Mary quite contrary how does your garden grow, with cockle shells and silver bells and pretty maids all in a row.
Flemish is one of the languages of Belgium.
You've probably heard of clog dancing or clogging in the Appalachians, it was taken to America by English settlers.
I love Appalachian clog dancing, there's a great video by David Hoffman called 'best bluegrass clog dancing video ever made'.
Much truth in what the last guy said; you will notice that Morris dancing is almost always outside a pub 🍺🍺
As far as I know Morris Dancing originates in history as fertility dancing. (insuring crops grow)
Off topic I know but Flemish is the language of the Flanders region which is mainly in Belgium and was where some of the bloodiest battles of WW1. Check out the poem "In Flanders Fields" by Major John McCrae (Canadian Army).
The Dutch still wear clogs to this day. My line of work has brought me into contact with a few Dutch lorry drivers that drive in them.
Flemish are Belgium people.
Hi Lillian & Felipe, the 1st time I came across Morris Dancing, was probably on a Benny Hill show in the late `60`s, that did include ladies. The next time was in a Classic Who story with the 3rd Dr., it involved the traditional village version performed as a Spring festival. The centrepiece was a Maypole which had coloured streamers attached to the top, which they held onto whilst dancing in & out & round & round the maypole.
The next time was in one of the Two Ronnie`s musical sketches. In all these versions women were involved, I always got the impression it was more of a West Country village event.
I believe Morris dancing dates back to the 15th century 🕺
2:17 Letsbe Avenue, where all policeman live.
There are lots of us that take the piss out of this haha but we do know it is old and has history, but look at it 😂😂
We used to get them come into our pub in summer to dance. Then they went off to the next one. Was nice to see. Almost like a scene out of The Wicker Man.
Two suggestions for you.Both are very British traditions.The Heston Flora day Cornish dance that's hundreds of years old.The Trooping the Colour which the Queen attends an opportunity to see British redcoats in their yearly parade.Its a massive tourist attraction.
Why do you think dance should be IMPRESSIVE? Dance is ubiquitous in EVERY culture, and I really hate the idea that it has to be professionalised. It's about participation. Watching it on TV is the WRONG way to experience it anyway. Can't believe you're questioning the idea that men should be allowed to dress up. Thought you were 'post modern! Lots of women take part these days anyway. BTW I'm not and have never been a Morris Dancer.
Morris Dancers - Steer clear, well clear!
I gave up Morris dancing, kept falling off the bonnet!
They say it is very difficult to learn: I wish it were impossible.
You have to remember dance is just a way of moving and very old dance is just walking around to a beat, or some sort of music. modern dancing is alot different to how it started, so how impressive it is to modern people does not matter. Like all things dancing has changed and in 300-400 years from now, people will look back and look at how we dance now and think its not impressive and weird too.
Morris is from the French Maurice to mean moorish. Or Moore’s . Flemish is Dutch.
Napoleon didn't invent high heels. You're probably thinking of Louis XIV, but they have a practical origin in being suitable for horse riding and keeping your feet in the stirrups. Cowboy boots are the same.
Flemish is a Dutch Belgian dialect
Knowledge of the original Morris [ Moorish ] dancing was lost centuries ago. The current bilge was resurrected in about 1910 by a Frenchman who wanted the English to be made to look ridiculous. He succeeded.
I always thought it to be a very old English village tradition. Nothing to do with Spain. Flemish is a language from Belgium.
Come to a beltane bash with us
It's a gypsy fire festival that we all love.
Not the best clip of Morris dancers, 1448 was the first recorded dance and is meant to welcome the summer in.
Unfortunately a 2 minute 1970s clip of a complete doughnut of a reporter trying to get a laugh is not something to
Make an opinion of a very old English tradition. By the way love you guys.
There are female Morris dancers called mayflower Morris dancers both dress and dance similar
Flemish is spoken in Belgium! I think it's a little like Dutch.
I would say that was a really bad example of Morris dancing to watch! Normally they either swing white hankies around or knock sticks together, have bells on their shins and don't wear clogs as clog dancing is a separate folk dance in the UK. The most common instrument used is usually the D/G melodeon (which I play, but haven't done for Morris dancers before, though I do play Morris tunes). Those dancers were also pretty lame, if you ask me and didn't do any yelling to accompany their dancing!
Women can join now. Though some men don't agree with this, it was voted on and the result was to accept women.
I would pronounce Lancashire, Lankuhsheer, so with an A, but not shire or or shur!
You could, of course--Oh ! you are doing what I was going to suggest you do, check online. THIS wasn't the most technical you could ask for. There are contests to prove the point. Many groups are larger, have their own dress designs, have bells sewn around the knees etc etc , and also carry large clapper bells, sometimes accompanied by accordions and othe instruments. Plain Clog-dancing is still very much alive in northern cities and towns. Clog-dancing on Naval Sailing ships, went back centuries. You have hardly scratched the surface. This filmed ''report ? is typically mocking, but does not undermine true lover's of the dance.
Pagan based. Multiple Morris styles according to geographical area., some of which quite violent to watch. Don't judge by watching an old tv interview.
Yes : Lan-ca-sha
You should try church bellringing, and find out about maypole dancing and the (dying) May Queen tradition.
Try the Bacup Coconutters. In LANCASHIRE.
The Britannia Coconut Dancers of Bacup
www.coconutters.co.uk
Felipe wins On Lancashire Or Lancs if you want to be informal (Could do a Mini quiz On The counties that are Shortened in UK writing/talk There are about 10 to discover )
Young Girls have their own Dancing Troupes and they parade on the Church Parade /town carnivals (Eastertime) Thankfully they are not expected to graduate as Cheer leaders
Ahh my namesake dancing. Def Flemish (Belgian) roots. When William the Conqueror 'settled' in UK a lot of his Flemish Lords also settled here with him and he built castles for them so they and their armies would be protected from the marauding English and Welsh who wanted them out. The roots of Morris dancing comes from Flemish influence originally hence the clogs and as far as it not being very athletic dances were very simple then so everyone could do it. You would never see the Tudor Court doing the Jitterbug, it wasn't seen as seemly to throw yourself around unless you were from the circus.
As inhibitions waned so did clothing and movements in dance. I thought you would've approved to be honest, not a bit of flesh in sight and very sedate lol.
The shoes are clogs.
You should look up some longsword dancing,and clog dancing. Morris was originally to drive away evil spirits and this was a fairly poor example.
I always think, when the All Blacks rugby team do their Haka, a threatening display of aggression (started by the Moaris, I think), the English team should do a Morris dance in reply, to take the piss out of the All Blacks.
I wonder how long it will be before black-face Morris dancing becomes an issue. Or maybe it is already.
frogletx: it has been contested but they were told to go away. Blackface morris was based on the workers of the Coal mining and Foundry trade!
The English version of the Haka.
I don't think they are dancing to impress anyone, they enjoy keeping up tradition, some say its a fertility dance. don't forget 500 years ago entertainment was limited, the only excitment was war and adventure.
Morris dancers were considered to be a bit dangerous in centuries past, it wasn't as we think of it today ie , a bit of a laugh , these guys were Rock and Roll , they were young virile men who would have taken great offence if they were thought to be effeminate in any way , they weren't, the English male in particular was quite different from the reserved caracature that is portrayed throughout the world, for most of the last 1500 years he has been anything but reserved, but certain types and times in history this belief has held sway. The English couldn't have had the history it has if we had always been as we sometimes appeared , other countries threatened we just did . We didn't threaten to burn the White House down we just did, we even went to war because an English man had his ear cut off, our history is littered with staggering actions, we were anything but reserved in action but we didn't feel the need to trumpet our achievements, we were modest in general but not necessarily reserved, there's a difference. I know this has little to do with the video really but I thought I'd try to explain that the caricature of English men in particular throughout history is wide of the mark. Ps Flemish is a mixture of Belgian and Dutch people and I don't condone Burning the White House or many other incidents in our history I was just making the point that we were bold and would take on anyone if we thought we were in the right, we were confident some of us still are regardless of age .
I love folk dancing.
Do you know why morris dancers have bells, it so they can annoy blind people too.
Flemish is Belgium
To find a ancient root watch the film “the wiccaman”. Also fighting morris, Lots of different sections and styles. Woman are allowed in morris!
They are now for the most part, although there are still some Morris sides still firmly against women being involved because it's not traditional. Without women Morris Dancing could be in trouble today I think.
You should react to the "Two Ronnies" Morris Dancing sketch, it's really funny
To be honest the team you played were not so hot. Some are so much more.
PS. The vest is a "waistcoat" the
"suspenders" are Braces.
Oh! By the way, it would be rare to find a bricklayer or a coal miner.
And again, it's "Lankisha"
The term "Morris Dancing" is a corruption of Moorish dancing.... copying dances and costumes from the Moors hundreds of years ago. Flemish comes from Belgium. Pansy used to be non-PC slang for being gay!
you want to watch the movie [the wickerman with edward woodward and christopher lee 1973 ,,its all about this stuff.its a classic horror movie
Trooping the Colour is 260 years old
I always used to wish we had some cool dancing like Irish dancing but no us English got stuck with grown men with bells on their shins prancing about like fairy elephants waving hankies or sticks about 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Firstly they are clogg dancers not moriss dancers and women are not excluded at all!
I fully support Lord Vetinari's stance on morris dancers and dancing.
"...the drummer beat the drum a few times and the accordionist played a long drawn-out chord, the legal sign that a Morris Dance is about to begin, and people who hang around after this have only themselves to blame."
Flemish is Belgian
As Sir Thomas Beecham said, one should try everything once, except incest and folkdancing.
I used to think Morris dancers were also freemasons, both involve strange rituals and weirder clothing, with no females.
Lol were ever your finding your info but it's way off .. its notin to do with moors who were Arabs.. its traditional dance may day the May pole and Morris dancing are all in tandem
don't watch it if you have an upset stomach.
Do you ever think about how smelly people were in medieval times like the 1980s? And they didn't even realise how smelly they were because everyone was smelly!
I'm neither impressed with the costume or the dance. However there is something very English and ridiculous about which makes me want to join a troop. The beer drinking would be a bonus to. Sadly we don't have one near me.
You should start one.
I hate bloody Morris dancers as my surname is Morris.Prancing about with their bells around their ankles.
My wife and I once went shopping in our city centre and we heard some bells jingling behind us,I thought " bloody Morris dancers",I turned round and it was a couple of Buddhists 🤣🤣🤣.
A bit like the Austrian Germanic
Everyone has to be called Morris ? I lied
there are a lot better videos on youtube which will give you a better under standing ,this dance was very slow and did not have some of the characters which you see the programme looks like late 60s or early 70s
Lancashire is pronounced " LancAsha"
Any excuse for more beer.
I hate 3 things in this life: sport, liberalism and Morris Dancing.
Guess it must be a Lancastrian past time' lol
These are better examples:
ruclips.net/video/nADwsDwla3w/видео.html
*Scottish dance
Some have woman now. But i think its a bit of fun and an excuse for a booze up thats lasted for a long time. People acting daft i guess.
Woman ? Some Golf Clubs allow them , as well although Freemasons keep them out...
I really think if you are going to mock someone else's traditions it is far better rather than look at something for just a couple of minutes then come to a conclusion, look at it properly. How about Hawaiian Tradition where men wear Flowered Headwear or American Native people who wear feathers and paint their faces. How about watching an Olympic sport for the first time thinking and after a couple of minutes come to some conlusion what's the point in that they are only running.
Are you a Morris dancer
@@ThePostmodernFamily No, but I appreciate the importance of traditions that are sadly being eroded from all around the World. I went into one of the larger towns nearby some years ago to shop. There was a big festival and gathering of Morris Dancers from all over the UK and possibly further. Was surprised to see and discover my old Woodwork Teacher from my School years Mr Sunderland was the top UK Morris Dancer. The dancing was very wide ranging and the town was packed, the Hobby Horse costumes were spectacular and as the day went on learnt more and appreciated what it was all about. Ended up staying in the town until the evening and was a great day out. One of our local Pubs in the town I live in is a stopping point for Steam Traction Engines and they had a Morris Dancing event. Just to add yes women do dance as well. It supports the local communities and is innocent affordable fun that takes up no room and where everyone has a good time. Different traditional World cultures is something we should be applauding and learn by, not a World where everything is exactly the same. I've witnessed it myself in my own town where local traditional events that get people including families out and meet each other. Thousands raised for charities, then once they have gone they have then gone forever. Also important when local events die out people become more distant.
This was a very basic dance. there are groups around the country that have better dance programmes. It is nation wide and as far as I recall, depends much on the seasons and seems to have a more pagan base in England.
Cloggs.
Lanc a shire!!!!!!
Never understood it. Never will. Just plain weird and a little bit disconcerting.