1964: Love is... BELLS, WHISTLES and DEMON MASKS | Tonight | Weird and Wonderful | BBC Archive

Back in the 1960s, the young folk of Sardinia were segregated by sex for most of their lives, and allowed to do little more than make eyes at each other.
But, during an annual community event stretching back 3,000 years and known as the demon dance, the rules are very different indeed.
Clip taken from Tonight, originally broadcast on BBC Television, Thursday 28 May, 1964.
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[@georgesos]

This still goes on in many places around the Mediterranean (Greece,Italy,Spain,portugal)

[@PlanetImo]

Oh cool. I did wonder.

[@fburton8]

Julian Pettifer... such a familiar face!

[@caracortage3270]

What a pretty name!

[@PlanetImo]

Very interesting, thanks :)

[@hilaryepstein6013]

"It must be a great relief to experience a direct approach". I'm assuming (hoping) Julian was being ironic when he said that.

[@Mummyjen2012]

…and then internet dating as a concept began 😂

[@1991sth]

Well this was strange and quite fascinating to see

[@syedalamgir5838]

Love is divine ❤

[@jasonayres]

Something fishy going on there (in Sardinia) I certainly wouldn't like my daughter roped into that.

[@B00ZEBAR0N]

Surely this is a Monty Python skit? 😂

[@p5rsona]

One guy at end lost this mask

[@nicolelillis2077]

This is a fascinating insight into Sardinian courting customs. In the pursuit of love, many people often wear masks. Some are obvious, others are not. It's the universal human condition....☮️

[@JohnDoe-tx8lq]

They're impressive, especially as it's the same relentless movement and noise... scary! Narrator says about monsters are "not originally to win wives..." 03:00 But what about the guys with the lassos? I can't help wondering if all this light hearted spectacle was originally much more sinister. Even today there are still cultures that use actual, real Bride Kidnapping as an acceptable way to getting a wife by force... I bet the origins in Sardinia where the same. Googled it but can't find any specific info...hopefully, I'm completely wrong! 🙂

[@Cordelia-again]

This is how the gypsy's 'court' too.

[@markiliff]

#fascinating #depressing

[@JJONNYREPP]

1964: Love is... BELLS, WHISTLES and DEMON MASKS | Tonight | Weird and Wonderful | BBC Archive 27.5.24 rather like policemen, then.....? getting to the point....a very rare terracotta mask.

[@williamscott2703]

April,fool

[@SelectedNarcissist]

People had broader faces back then so they probneeded bigga landscape masks 😅!!!!

[@BsktImp]

00:16 Aborted half-attempted side kick?

[@robertferguson5562]

Sylvester klawser