Morris Dancers

[bad company]

Apparently this group are looking to recruit new members:-

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.eastbourneheral...

Seriously, wtf is morris dancing all about?

[anonymous-user]

Great that the the tradition is going strong. They pull a good crowd in my local High Street.

[ellroy]

What’s it all about?

Beards and real ale.

[KrazyIvan]

Sorry but they are perhaps the most annoying self centred bunch if old tts going.

When we lived in Surrey, there was a few groups who as soon as the weather was good, would go round all the pub gardens bothering all the patrons trying to enjoy a pint or two with friends. Was not unusual for the pub bar men to chase them off, much to the pleasure of others in the garden. Invariably they would start their racket and people would drink up and leave, if they were allowed to finish they would then want "donations" and would call out anyone who didn't put a few quid in the hats.

So what's it all about? Being a bloody nuisance.

[FN2TypeR]

ellroy said:

What’s it all about?

Beards and real ale.

So it's basically the same as every micro brewery in the land?

[C0ffin D0dger]

Yep, more Hipster nonsense

[jmorgan]

Something someone enjoys doing, why not.

I could be just as dismissive of foot the ball or hitting the ball with a stick into pockets, pointless but for some reason it is liked.

[PositronicRay]

I enjoy it.

Most people think of Cotswold Morris but google Border Morris it's more hardcore.





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[crofty1984]

ellroy said:

What’s it all about?

Beards and real ale.

Sign me up.

[MacW]

We're not doing the stick and bucket dance.

[v8250]

I've a good friend who's a seasoned Morris Dancer with the Kennet Morris Men http://www.kennetmorrismen.co.uk/ He's tried to encourage me to join a number of times and whilst I really appreciate the passion these guys have for all things 'Morris', it's not quite my bag. However, Morris provides a great piece of historical entertainment to 1000's of people year on year. Kennet Morris are a great bunch of guys with superb camaraderie and can be hilarious to watch.

If you're after a very funny film to watch this coming weekend, go buy 'Morris, a Life with Bells On' https://www.amazon.co.uk/Morris-Life-Bells-Derek-J... It's a superb piss taking parody containing extreme Morris style including the deadly 'Threeple Hammer Damson' and handkerchiefs so sharp they can take out a man's eye...and for added points even stars the lovely Naomie Harris.

Edited by v8250 on Wednesday 4th April 11:00

[warch]

My dad was a Morris dancer for decades. He was in the Mickelbarrow Notts/Lincoln and South Shropshire Morris.

One thing to bear in mind. Morris dancers take it very seriously. It might look a bit like a load of beardy middle aged men pratting about, but take the piss at your peril.

I think it was originally a quasi legal form of begging which evolved, taking in Victorian or Edwardian romantic notions of the country idyll and new age/pagan ideas like celebrating the Green Man and drinking ale with bits in it.

[JuniorD]

Morris Dancing is one of the last vestiges of English culture, in fact I think it epitomizes what it is to be an Englishman. Rather than rather than misconception, it should be a source of immense pride.

[v8250]

warch said:

I think it was originally a quasi legal form of begging which evolved, taking in Victorian or Edwardian romantic notions of the country idyll and new age/pagan ideas like celebrating the Green Man and drinking ale with bits in it.

It goes back much further than that, originating from 'Moorish Men', the Spanish Moors [Berbers], and arriving in Saxon Blighty sometime in the C9th.

[warch]

v8250 said:

warch said:

I think it was originally a quasi legal form of begging which evolved, taking in Victorian or Edwardian romantic notions of the country idyll and new age/pagan ideas like celebrating the Green Man and drinking ale with bits in it.

It goes back much further than that, originating from 'Moorish Men', the Spanish Moors [Berbers], and arriving in Saxon Blighty sometime in the C9th.

Yes I'd heard that, it's also associated with mummers and mumming which is a medieval practice on similar lines. Morris dancing as we have these days (music and dress) is largely late 18th-20th century though.

[Master Bean]

Morris Dancing = Bell Ringing.

[K50 DEL]

JuniorD said:

Morris Dancing is one of the last vestiges of English culture, in fact I think it epitomizes what it is to be an Englishman. Rather than rather than misconception, it should be a source of immense pride.

Absolutely, I love it when they come to our local area, there's usually a performance or two a few times a year, thankfully the landlords of the pubs around here are a little more enlightened and actually invite them to perform, standing room only when they do.

Can't believe anyone would whinge about a centuries old British tradition to be honest, I find that kind of sad.

[Blatter]

It must be time for the old chestnut -

Q. What’s the difference between a circumcised penis and a Morris dancer?

A. You have to be a complete pr1ck to be a Morris dancer

[bloomen]

It's the one and only visible link to England's deep history that pops up in peoples' faces whether they like it or not.

Which is pitiful when you think about it.

[Ayahuasca]

They are a link to England's ancient ways, a time when the land was new and covered in greenwood. A time when our forefathers built stone circles. When dragons roamed the land and when villagers gathered when the days work was done to drink a pint of the innkeepers best ale and sing hey nonny nonny.