Morris Men

[rose2008-2008]

I saw some Morris men coming through town this morning going to do a display. It interests me the Folk Lore connected to Morris Dancers,The Green Man, Man with the Horses head ect. I think it originally may have been to do with fertility basically but im not quite sure. They look so colourful and sound wonderful with the bells a ringing and the sticks clacking!!.

Does anyone else like this sort of thing?, or is interested in Folk Lore. I know Kent is quite well known for old Folk Lore tales and different characters?.

[ilove2patch]

I lived in Kent from when I was three to eight years old or there abouts & remember maypole dancing. I loved the way the ribbons made a pattern around the maypole. I love all the old pagan traditions & beliefs.

[saasher2012]

I also originate from Kent& you are right about the Morris dancers but they also have many more dances for different things , this time of year it's fertility of the crops etc. Kent is still steeped in Pagan rituals, sayings, & in the heart of Kent they still have their own language .

[stroppy*cow]

"Him indoors" was a morris man for many years, I have driven him round on too many "tours" to count!

The style of the dances varies from region to region, as does the number of men is a "side". They are dances for fertility, to drive away evil spirits, to bring good weather.

[saasher2012]

Which is way the traditionalist don't like to see women taking over Morris Dancing. It is by Tradition men only!.

[stroppy*cow]

Not all of the morris traditions were "men only", in Derbyshire the Winster morris was always danced by both men and women. Some of the Bedfordshire traditions were mixed, and also some of the North Country clog morris traditions were also tradionally mixed sides.

The men may well object to women dancing, but do remember that without the women remembering and performing the dances during the wars, most of the dances would have been lost.

[wilsonhepple]

I grew up in a small coal mining village in the North East, where the men of the village danced a dance similar to  Morris dancing, but called themselves 'Rappers'.

Their dance steps were similar to those of Morris men, however, in the case of the Rappers, each man held a small sword, and after many intricate maneuverings, the dance ended with the swords intertwined into an elaborate star.? 

According to legend, Rapper dancing dates back hundreds of years.

[saasher2012]

I have no objection to woman dancing I'm sorry If I gave that impression !

[stroppy*cow]

There are two main sword dance traditions - Rapper sword and Long sword.

The Rapper sword is a flexible strip of metal, usually about 2 feet long, with a fixed wooden handle at one end, and a wooden handle at the other end that swivels.

The long sword is usually solid, about 3 foot long, with a wooden fixed wooden handle at one end, and a blunt rounded end. The edges of the sword are blunt.

Both dances weave the swords into intricate patterns - both types share many of the main patterns and figures and both usually end with the swords woven into a star that is held aloft at the end of the dance.

Mostly sword dancers wear knee breeches, white stockings, white shirts and some wear a coloured waistcoat. 

[captainbovine]

I love watching Morris dancing, it's brilliant. Everyone always seems to be having a fabulous time.

[ilove2patch]

The last lot I watched one of the guys had a heart attack & they had to call an ambulance. I believe he was ok though. 

[alisonsvintagechicboutique]

Oh Morris dancing - yes yes yes!!  Love it.

Grew up in Kent and saw it quite a bit.  The hooden horse scares the living daylights out of me though!!  

Really love all the tradition and folklore associated with it.  Some people take the mick out of it but those guys are very fit and agile and dedicated.  Whats more the pubs give them free ale afterwards - what's not to like.  

A few years ago on a Summer evening I was watching a group of Morris Dancers outside a pub in Hertfordshire,  one of them came over to ask if I would be part of the dance - I was like oh my goodness what do I have to do but all I had to do was stand there whilst they did a very intricate dance around me and in my honour!!  One by one each dancer came up and presented me with a fresh flower taken from his hat.  By the end of the dance I had a small posy of flowers.  I was seriously entranced by this.  It was actually very special and magical and im remembering it now and smiling!  

I have always loved folk music and folk dancing.  

I recall the last night of the Broadstairs folk festival when there is a big parade of all the Morris groups down the main street,  it is an awesome sight and sound.  This is where I first saw ladies Morris and clog dancers.  Fabulous.  The hooden horse went through the crowd and rested his head on my shoulder - I nearly had heart failure - that thing scares me out of my wits, I know not why!!!

[wizilizi]

My Mum grew up in rural Wiltshire & danced the Maypole.  She & her Mum (my Gran) were really superstitious about mayflowers, & both shrieked & shushed me put of the house when I brought in a large bunch I had gathered for them

They never did tell me the superstition, but they sure didn't like the flowers

[rhubarbcity]

I still won't bring May blossom in the house

Not many morris dancers in Lancashire, there are the Bacup Coconut dancers and there used to be a lot clog dancing

[alisonsvintagechicboutique]

The scent of mayflowers/hawthorn blossom is the same as the smell of decaying flesh seemingly.  This may be why it has come to be associated with death.  I think its one of those plants that smells fine outside but not indoors.  

Some people say the hawthorn was what made the crown of thorns.  In some places in Ireland roads and sewers have been diverted to avoid cutting down a hawthorn tree.  There are also associations with witches and fairies.  

The berries can cure heart problems seemingly.  I just read a story about a man in my own home town whose heart operation was not needed after he made some juice from the berries!  

[bankhaunter]

In some places in Ireland roads and sewers have been diverted to avoid cutting down a hawthorn tree.

When a new reservoir there was flooded there was still a couple of thorn trees standing that the workmen refused to cut down.

Personally I think morris dancing is barmy, wouldn't want it to stop though, we need barmy things to bring colour into our lives.

[mr-expresso]

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@bankhaunter wrote:

Personally I think morris dancing is barmy, wouldn't want it to stop though, we need barmy things to bring colour into our lives.

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"Barmy"........   I think you are being polite...... I have never seen anything as ridiculous as a team of Morris Dancers jingling their bells banging their sticks and waving their 'hankies'.... Most cringeworthy....

[ilove2patch]

Each to their own. I expect some of the things you do in your spare time we would find cringeworthy too! lol 

[saasher2012]

Don't forget the pigs bladder on a stick! lol.

[ilove2patch]

How could anyone forget a pigs bladder on a stick! lol