Morris Dancing - only in England

Morris dancing is a form of English folk dance usually accompanied by music. It is based on rhythmic stepping and the execution of choreographed figures by a group of dancers, usually wearing bell pads on their shins. Implements such as sticks, swords and handkerchiefs may also be wielded by the dancers.
These Morris men and women were performing on the Ashdown Forest in East Sussex on Mayday morning.

[@mariellouise1]

Love this! So great to see the dancing and especially the man who played the recorder with one hand, and beat the drum with the other. I have drawings of this from medieval times.

[@Britclip]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@YorkyOne]

Pipe and tabor.

[@queenbeekeeper]

It was imported 12,000 miles away from England way, way down in the South Pacific to New Zealand. Both my husband and I were part of different 'sides'. That's how we met - 40 years ago!

[@davidfreja7162]

How lovely is all this, peaceful and kind! Very English so let us just enjoy without harsh comment.

[@maximhornby5493]

There are people here saying it looks stupid, but I reckon it looks right fun. The only problem would be the bells and clothing, which make it less accessible, but this is cool for rural celebrations.

[@sandisheldon2256]

Morris varies across the country - in my area it's similar but they wear clogs and make a right racket. But this is getting more popular again. 👍👍

[@kathykeeley352]

So joyful, jingly and swirly.

[@Andrewjg_89]

Sounds like Morris Dancing is a very spiritual and popular dance. Very cheerful, joyful and wonderful.

[@joannechisholm4501]

It dates back over 1,000 years

[@Wotsitorlabart]

@@joannechisholm4501 No it doesn't. Earliest reference in England is late 1400's.

[@FilthyFils.musicgroup]

Its YOUR LIFE

[@DavidMckenna-wl9do]

Love the first sides costume very coluorful

[@darrengreen6341]

Well it seems there's so few likes because there's only 400 people in the country that loves it or watches it.xx I'm one of them xxx

[@harrybarrow6222]

Does anyone remember the comic strip, “The Cloggies” by Bill Tidy? It was about a fictional clog dancing team in the north of England.

[@mikecowking710]

I remember it from Private Eye and recently bought some of the compilation books.

[@dianatraut8412]

It is in Germany too, we call it Moriskentanz

[@YorkyOne]

The Moriskentanz today appears to be a modern recreation of the medieval dance. The English morris dances we see today developed over several centuries from their 15th century origins which were, in all probability, very similar to the Moriskentanz.

[@vikinginspace4881]

I want to take high amounts of psychedelics and watch this bizarre ritual.

[@creativenative5175]

Thank you for sharing this!

[@Britclip]

My pleasure!

[@vinchenzo678]

Seen it in Chester Lee Street 2 year ago.. Was more popular when I was younger 70s 80s. My gran used to take me to see it at Northumberland fairs.

[@plejady]

farts are still poular- watch fart dancers

[@zuluwarrior1648]

John we watch those in Alice springs Australia.

[@chrisdudeson6125]

The Morris dance is common to all inhabited worlds in the multiverse. It is danced under blue skies to celebrate the quickening of the soil and under bare stars because it's springtime and with any luck the carbon dioxide will unfreeze again. The imperative is felt by deep-sea beings who have never seen the sun and urban humans whose only connection with the cycles of nature is that their Volvo once ran over a sheep. (Terry Pratchett, Reaper Man)

[@ImpeachObamaASAP2010]

that's just weird.

[@mohammedcohen]

...reminds of the schuplatten of the southern Germany?Austria area...

[@BonnieCurtis-h4h]

Must be an ancient pre dawn ritual, interesting.

[@cassandramayrick9586]

Love it

[@mr-wx3lv]

These old traditions are dying out in Britain, much to it's detrement..

[@CalCap]

Thank fuck

[@cait9756]

@@CalCap Where ye from

[@emilyhughes4297]

Do you do Morris dancing yourself?

[@m.o.bentertainment8582]

Cultures are made up bro

[@evolassunglasses4673]

@@CalCap bet you prefer gangster rapp.

[@GusturiNaturale]

This is a European dance, traditional, but not uniquely English. It has many variations of music and coreography throuout Europe. If you believe that this is "only in England", try googling "Calusari" and prepare for a shock.

[@khaledyaghi64]

Yeah. "Morris" is actually "Moorish". Morris dance is Moorish dance. Moor means Arab

[@caveworld7849]

Oh who cares, let us just enjoy something for once without this “Ooh nothings English” mentality

[@absp343]

People came to England from all over Europe, Germanic groups, Vikings, Romans etc. maybe the dances are all over Europe because of migration... It does not mean that this Morris dance is not English.

[@Wotsitorlabart]

​​@@khaledyaghi64 No it's not an 'Arab' dance. Originally a 15th century entertainment for the royal court and quite different to what you see in the video. It's name probably came from the fact that it seemed exotic - it was perhaps the way the Moors were thought to dance.

[@WinterPhoenixForestKirin]

ANGLO PRIDE WORLDWIDE! 😁

[@nanettedavidson8949]

There are several hundred Morris sides in the USA. Americans dancing.

[@carlzwanzig5372]

Only in England?? Probably 40-50 sides in the US, then add Canada, Australia, etc. We're all over :).

[@sandymorrison5519]

Not forgetting the odd one in the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark

[@quintdegourd6342]

Apparently, every village and town has their own dress and dance for the Morris dance.

[@Britclip]

Incorrect.

[@joline2730]

@@Britclip ... but almost ‼️

[@spookmore]

Our Durham club are called the Skidmarkers..

[@rorolilred]

Lol!!!

[@ceciliaanamaria6340]

I saw something similar in Romania. ...

[@anglonrx2754]

Claus?

[@plejady]

or masturbatonia

[@richardmorris7502]

How you like that, Riverdance?

[@oldpigsqueal3578]

Hi Kevin!

[@plejady]

boris and sunak dancers

[@laurence2824]

Only the women seem to enjoy doing this. The blokes tend to look a bit embarrassed and relieved when it's all over. The concertina-player actually looked bored.

[@Al_mutlaq]

عاشوا

[@ioioioiooioioi]

Just watched an emotional haka dance. And this... I loled

[@Cedar_Wolf]

Found a redditor.

[@nickandrachelmajor8487]

We do this in New Zealand too

[@rustybraun9101]

Lmao. I was watching a haka dance and a commentor from England challenged NZ’s haka dance to his native Morris dance. I came here to find out what it was. I fear I may not catch my breathe as the laughter has been fierce.

[@ioioioiooioioi]

@@Cedar_Wolf damn right.

[@ioioioiooioioi]

@@rustybraun9101 don't get me wrong, these are the same people who conquered many nations with this dance. The Haka, not so much.

[@Music_is_Breathing]

It looks as ridiculous as it is described. But, hey, they're having fun

[@bensterWasHere]

I wish I could time-travel to 5 minutes ago when I didn't know this existed

[@MrSettlethescore]

🤦🏼‍♂️

[@TheTunnellTake]

Only in England? Thank God!. Lol

[@m5177]

Bollocks

[@nickandrachelmajor8487]

Nope we do it in New Zealand too

[@ericmintz8305]

Only in England? How come this Yank has done it?

[@nirotvlive]

I wonder do they know African “Moors” came up with this dance… hence the name “Morris Dance“

[@anahatamelodeon]

I'm sure they've ALL heard that, and they all know it's (almost certainly) not true.

[@colonelturmeric558]

Oh look another afrocentrist who bastardises history for their narrative 😒

[@Wotsitorlabart]

​@@anahatamelodeon Certainly untrue.

[@silvershoes9724]

I am English and I’m afraid to say that I dislike Morris dancing lol

[@rileybobbert6527]

better than some fat girl twerking in your face

[@drrd4127]

Me too. It is like dancing for senior citizens hahaha

[@lawomega1]

Each to their own ,but if you like dancing that has tradition of hundreds of years and an awful lot of people enjoy the movement of the dance with beautiful music ,is that a wrong thing to express . I wonder what floats your boat mate !

[@el864]

@@drrd4127 look up Beltane Border Morris! It’s a lot less sedentary and there’s more shouting lol - previously the wore black paint on their face but recently they’ve changed it to dark colours and just across the eyes to be respectful (but most old videos online show the previous paint), and they do some very cool dances - one with actual torches (that are on fire!)

[@wilftodd3696]

Rapper dancing I much better tbh

[@TheresaPowers]

looks silly and pointless.

[@joline2730]

But we enjoy it ... 💯💯✔✔😆😆

[@scrimshank1]

People dancing, singing and enjoying themselves? What's wrong with that? Men, women and kids and the odd dog. Sure beats singing and dancing all night at a club\pub and going home in a fog with God knows who. Now that is silly and pointless.