They swooped in like feathered birds, wearing colourful rags and masks.
They whirled and twirled with bells on legs and shoes.
These are Morris Dancers, performing old-age dances that some say even the Druids performed at Stonehenge during the summer solstice.
The leader of this group of dancers looked fearsome.
Musicians dressed in black played wild music.
I fell in love with the beauty of the accordion.
Some groups of Morris Dancers dress in white and dance with handkerchiefs.
Others dress in feathered rags and dance with sticks that they knock against each other.
When I was younger, I thought that Morris dancing was for nerds.
But now I appreciate the tradition of a dance that binds the past with the present.
There is a bit of insanity in dancing that does everybody a great deal of good. ~Edwin Denby
These are the Morris Dancers I saw at the Steyning Fair in May when I was in England.
For more traditions, please visit: My World.
this would be so cool to see…going to see if i can find a youtube vid…what cool costumes…
LikeLike
Wonderful photographs! Morris Dancers are pretty difficult to photograph in my experience, but these are great. I love the accordian close-up too.
LikeLike
Your photos are brilliant. I like those traditions in other countries. I also like to know the origine of each tradition.
LikeLike
Keeping traditions like that alive is quite a valuable achievement. Hooray for them, and thanks for you great photos that tell the story as well.
LikeLike
the past with the present.
Beautiful. Thanks for the continual educaton, Lady, Fi.
LikeLike
You have really cool traditions in your part of the world. Very different from us here.
I love accordion music.
LikeLike
Jingle – Jangle and ring a ding ding.
Magic shots.
LikeLike
Great photographs of such a lively time …. keep the green masked guy away from me though!
LikeLike
Looks like a fun festival!!! Do you know how the tradition has been kept alive and how accurate the tradition is? Especially the costumes? Pretty fascinating when you think about it…how this all traversed the ages!!!
LikeLike
Funny How these are young men keeping the tradition going. Wonderful and colorful. Thanks for reminding me. I had heard of them when I lived in the UK.
LikeLike
that sure seems great fun!
in india too we have a dance with sticks being knocked called ‘dandiya’!
LikeLike
Now that is beautiful I love those coloured rags and the dance looks so interesting
LikeLike
fascingating. i like their rag costumes.
my world is poste at http://calrat.blogspot.com
LikeLike
What fun. I’d love to see them perform.
LikeLike
Love that quote. I think children have it correct. Spontaneous happy dancing when the mood strikes. 🙂
LikeLike
The facial paint did look scary. But when I saw the accordion I knew all was well. A friendly musical instrument there never was. Love those raggedy costumes.
LikeLike
Very cool! Isn’t it funny how our attitudes change with age?
LikeLike
Love the Laura Ashley look 🙂
LikeLike
Such vibrant colours!
LikeLike
Nerds..my goodness..you are gently getting older Lady Fi! Such colorful rags..they look a little scary but still fun.:)
LikeLike
I love to learn of traditions like these! Thanks! Now i want to go to England to see them!
LikeLike
this sound like a lot of fun. .)
LikeLike
Wonderful! Lovely colors and photos.
Happy week to you:-)
LikeLike
Wow. Love the accordion close up, and the elegance of the player’s hands. And the colours – which captured a little bit of joy for me. Thanks.
LikeLike
Oh, how fun!
I love their costumes but the accordion is my favorite picture!
Beautiful photos!
Thanks for all the beauty you share!
Margie 🙂
LikeLike
that first shot is eye-catching….so colorful! I’ll have to ask hubby if he’s heard of this.
LikeLike
Traditional and mysterious dancing!! Intriguing and stimulating imagination. Dancers and people have fun. It is great to past down such an old, precious tradition from generation to generation. Thank you for great story and photos! Have a wonderful day!
LikeLike
That looks very colorful and attractive – I love the way you captured the movement in that last photo.
LikeLike
This is my first ‘up close encounter’ with Morris Dance! Another good post with great pictures 🙂
LikeLike
When I saw the first two photos, I thought this looked like some of Japanese traditional dance to ward off evil spirits. The music instrument is different. I love the accordion, too. Thank you for sharing.
LikeLike
dancing, whereever you may be, I am the lord of the dance said he.
LikeLike
I like their costumes 🙂
LikeLike
Amazing, those Morris dancers!
LikeLike
Fantastic! Love your photos and the brilliant colors/costumes! What fun! Thanks for sharing it with us!!
Sylvia
LikeLike
beautiful and colourful series of photos.
LikeLike
I’ve never seen Morris Dancers before. Beautiful photos!!
LikeLike
Your photos are impressive and they are really good even seen so big!
But I have never heard about a custom like that, never is too late to learn new 🙂
Nice sunny summer to you!
LikeLike
very good exposition of Morris Dancing. Yes, our view matures over time – thank goodness! 🙂
Aloha from Waikiki
Comfort Spiral
>
>
<
LikeLike
I think its important to keep our traditions alive, by encouraging our young people to continue on with them. I enjoyed these photos Fi – Dave
LikeLike
I’ve been in England for the last three years and I’ve never seen these Morris dancers perform though I’ve seen them once in an old pub! Lovely photos. You’ve done a great job.
LikeLike
En härlig värld med färg skulle jag vilja säga. Fint att du vill bjuda på denna värld. Min värld är lite rödare…
LikeLike
Hi there – nice to see these dancers again – happy mid-summer from our happy mid-winter!
Stewart M – Australia
LikeLike
I have seen morris dancers before, such a spectacle
LikeLike
There’s another theory that “Morris” dancing is an Anglicization of “Moorish” dancing, and that in England it only dates back as far as the Crusaders returning with vague memories of Arabic dances.
LikeLike
How neat!
LikeLike
Good! This form is preserved thus. Colorful and lively. Love those costumes.
LikeLike
Very colorful and fun getup.
LikeLike
Thanks for showing the world the crazy Morris dancers, just like the sealed knot lot, they are a bit bonkers!
LikeLike
That would have been something for me ! I wished I could have seen this life !!
LikeLike
I’ve read about Morris Dancers, but never seen them (obviously). Thank you so much for sharing this. The accordian is gorgeous–but I’m curious about the green-faced leader. Is he meant to be a reference to the Green Man of legend?
So much history & folklore here. Love it!
LikeLike
Those costumes are FABULOUS!! The colors are so FUN!
LikeLike
So very fun!
LikeLike
Very cool. The accordion shot is fantastic!
LikeLike
Nice pictures, I’ve loved these dresses made with scraps.
LikeLike
wonderful action shots LadyFi. I really like what they’re wearing. they sort of resemble some things in my closet 🙂
LikeLike
Never seen Morris Dancers but I can imagine how they look and sound live!
LikeLike
I love to see Morris men dancing. I’ve never seen the rags, though.
LikeLike
So colorful and charming! Wonderful lively captures 🙂
My Yatra Diary…
LikeLike
Happy Wednesday!
LikeLike
I HEART THE ACCORDION! GAH!
LikeLike
Fabulous photos of the Morris dancers!
LikeLike
This photo shoot is done very well. I feel like I am right there with the dancers :^)
LikeLike
I love the accordion too
the dancers are wonderful
LikeLike
That’s a raggedy bunch if I’ve ever seen one.
LikeLike
Very eye-catching shot of the accordion!
LikeLike
Great post. Saw the other side of this years ago on a pre-Christmas (i.e. winter solstice) visit to Stonehenge. Lots of witches and druids about, including one young and very pregnant woman who was hoping to deliver her baby that night within the stone circle.
LikeLike
Odd how traditions and stories that we discounted when young become more important as we get older. Wonderful pictures; great you were there to see this festival.
LikeLike