The Morris Men

The English folk tradition of Morris dancing dates back centuries. While many places have lost their Morris dancers, every year on Whit Monday in May the villagers of Bampton still gather to the sound of melodeons and fiddles. This short film is a snapshot of the lively celebration.
This is the fifth in a series of 10 short films I’m making. You can see the others at www.10shorts.com.

[@crwydryn]

It's Great to see this young lad following an important English tradition,although he'll be a teen by now so I hope he continued dancing Morris --Bravo lad!

[@bass_ist]

Great video. Thanks for making and sharing

[@janesmith9024]

This is our England. Long may she stand.

[@Alex_student101]

Haha nice one Auntie Jane. It’s Alex, I’ll have to come see you now this bloody lockdown is over!

[@sixteenstringjack]

Great little film. A couple of years a group of Morris men came into the pub I was in in South London. It was so brilliant and unexpected. Put me right back in touch with my heritage. I'd love to learn more about the Morris

[@bobthebuilderday6leader]

Learnt about Morris dancing and also appreciated all the beautiful shots!

[@vinchenzo678]

Well done.. Looking great.. Keep up the cheerful tradition Thanks

[@madamemarmot]

Totally awesome 💖💖🎶🎶💐💐

[@alistairdarby]

My parents danced for Hereburgh (Harbury, Warwks) and I had such a memorable childhood going on “tours” around the Cotswolds or up to the Windmill on May Day morning, or the various folk festivals (Warwick, Sidmouth, Lichfield, Barnard castle to name a few), and even further afield to France and Germany. Sadly, health issues meant they were unable to continue. I hope one day, I may have enough time to get back to my roots and join a Morris group. I did it at middle school but packed it in as a teenager. It’s a great English tradition and today on St. George’s day, it seems as relevant as ever as something that might brighten our country up whilst we all struggle with a cost of living crisis.

[@marlastrongbow]

Grampy Bill would be so proud, kiddo

[@freetolook3727]

Oh, my, god, "Clockwork Orange"!

[@ihateyoubutler2]

Charming little film, well edited.Well done!

[@ioanciumasu994]

I think it's even much older than 600 years. In Romania, there is the same dance (called "Dance of the (Little) Horse", or "Horsemen" - in Romanian, Dansul Calusului" or "Calusarii") but more preserved (it survived especially in traditional-rural areas in the Carpathians mountains), and it was very well studied, documented and documented (it's among national treasures), so it's more like an institution and it's usually danced by professional bands or fan clubs. And it's known since "always". So, unless there was some Romanian-English coordination on a traditional popular dance between the 18th century and now, it's probably Roman or another pre-Roman common cultural heritage, like Celtic maybe (yes, lots of Celts in Romania in ancient times, along with Dacians, Germans, before the Romans, Goths, etc). A few words from Wikipedia (in English): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Călușari Check here: "Little horse dance" by professionals from Moldova region (NE Romania and Republic of Moldova): kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXrQpI2AbMiLZtE Same from Oltenia region (SW Romania): kzbin.info/www/bejne/m57Nd2mffpqKmZI From Transylvania (Central Romania): more like some clubs of kids at some local event: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g2SVc3mBgqZkhJY From Bucharest - a small children's club at a TV show: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hHW5g5mhjNhopac The last one in the list is the best :)

[@creativenative5175]

Thank you so much for sharing these!

[@Wotsitorlabart]

​​​​@@creativenative5175 The earliest English reference to morris dancing is from 1448 - the evidence suggests via France and the Low Countries. There seems to be a concerted effort to link Morris dancing with Romania via Dacian legionaries brought to England during the Roman occupation. It's complete nonsense. See Michael Heaney's history of the dance 'The Ancient English Morris Dance'.

[@chaigarden4006]

great documentary here

[@alisonwilliams-bailey3561]

I did research into Morris on my MA/Mphil performing arts. Abbots Bromley Horn Dance goes back to pre-Christian times with the origin of the Deer they use. And I interviewed two family members from the original family group. Both referenced the spiritual aspect of Nature. So folk arts are from pre-Christian era.

[@Wotsitorlabart]

Absolutely no evidence that the Abbots Bromley Horn Dance goes back to pre-Christian times. The earliest reference is from 1532 and it is described as a hobby-horse dance - the antlers are not mentioned. Carbon dating puts one of the antlers being from a reindeer living in the 11th century. So, all we know for certain is that they were imported sometime between then and the 17th century when the horns are first mentioned. The 'horns' make the dance unique but take them away and what is left is a traditional north Midlands hobby-horse dance employed to raise money for church funds as is well recorded in Tudor times. See EC Cawte 'Ritual Animal Disguise' and professor Ronald Hutton 'The Stations of the Sun'.

[@alisonwilliams-bailey3561]

@@Wotsitorlabart That is information I got from the family who have been running this since it started and they stated this. So you don't know what your talking about. I interviewed the family who run this in the 90s for my MA/MPhil and this information they gave me. And I attended in person so spoke to them in their house. For starters you have the actual horn deer itself is very ancient. And they have the evidence of this. i know who you reference and not accurate.

[@Wotsitorlabart]

​​@@alisonwilliams-bailey3561 So, actual researchers, experts in their field who have spent years delving into county archives, church records etc know absolutely nothing about the history of the dance? EC Cawte's ground breaking study of ritual animal disguise not accurate? Everything in my first comment is historically correct and verifiable. At least one of the 'horns' is from the 11th century (and they are Scandinavian) but there is no reference to the antlers until the 17th century. All this proves is that they were imported sometime between those dates. In fact the story that the locals used to give for the origins of the dance was that it dates back to the granting of a Royal charter to hold a fair in the 1200's - as is usual with no evidence to back up the claim. This has been superceded in recent years by the pagan fertility custom origin theory - as beloved by early 20th century folklorists. And it appears that the people who participate in these folk customs are the least likely to know the real history. Morris dancers, Horn dancers, Padstow Obby-Oss dancers, Jack-in-the-Greens - all claim pre-Christian/pagan/Celtic/fertility rite (pick and mix) origins in the face of overwhelming hard evidence to the contrary. Your MA/MPhil was in what exactly?

[@Wotsitorlabart]

​@@alisonwilliams-bailey3561 If as you say the dance is pre-Christian then the family has been running things for some 1300 years. Really?

[@Wotsitorlabart]

​​​@@alisonwilliams-bailey3561 But if you are basing your start date for the dance on the age of the antlers (11th century) then you really need to know that by this date the area in which Abbots Bromley lies had been Christian for some 300 years. So, firmly within the Christian era - not pre-Christian.

[@Alexander-uj5pb]

Bravo👍👍

[@jonnygaynon8861]

The Morris tradition is very much alive in my area. It’s way older than a few centuries old, certainly pre-Christian. Dates back to a time the British were in more in touch with nature and her cycles and had knowledge of etheric energies and frequencies and how to harness them to increase crop yields. It’s ritualistic for sure, but there’s a method to the madness if you know what you’re looking at when seeing the dances. Same with the Maypole and other associated traditions.

[@Wotsitorlabart]

Origins are 15th century. Not pre-Christian. Nothing to do with fertility. Not ritualistic. And neither is the maypole.

[@MrMartinAlmighty]

Was dubious at first, but this is really good!

[@aaronbarlow4376]

Blackadder mocks Morris dancing a few times lol.

[@patriciaking8824]

Sadly it does seem to be the butt of many jokes which is a real shame as it's part of our heritage, and if you are part of the "Morris world" then you know you are lucky enough to belong a wonderful group of people.

[@Happy_HIbiscus]

dude, this is cool

[@johnstevenson1709]

Didnt William Kemp dance the Morris from London to Norfolk that must make it 400 years old or so

[@Wotsitorlabart]

Earliest reference 1448.

[@YorkyOne]

Earliest reference in England 1448. Earliest European reference Burgundian court 1427-28.

[@SkyForgeVideos]

It's older than 600 years.

[@Wotsitorlabart]

Earliest reference 1448.

[@WellfortheBird]

Do you make all of the content on your channel?

[@RossHarrisonFilm]

Hi Brandon. Yes.

[@presstodelete1165]

I can tell you where the Morris Ring started if you like.

[@Wotsitorlabart]

Go on then. Is it a joke?

[@guillermonuneznoriega3785]

This dance comes from Mataccino dance. An Italian dance that influenced Moors and Christians and other dances across Europe. It is not a pagan dance. There are so many fotmal aspects in all those dances. Spanish missionaries took them to America too.

[@YorkyOne]

No it didn't! It's origins are as a 15th century royal court entertainment. The earliest reference being the Burgundian court of 1426. But you are correct that it is not 'pagan'.

[@felicitytoad]

🌸🦥

[@emildinu242]

It is a pagan ritual of fertility at least 1700 years old and inherited from Cohorts of Dacians (Primae Aelia Dacorvm , Ulpia Pannonia secunda Dacorvm and many more others) they built Hadrian's wall and also they were the most fiercely warriors that ever Roman Empire known, their homeland Dacia was defeated in 106 BC by the Roman Emperor Trajan and they choose to fight for Roman Empire than being slaves that's the real story about Morris dancers

[@Wotsitorlabart]

A lot of wishful thinking going on there I'm afraid.

[@emildinu242]

@@Wotsitorlabart All you have to do is just to Google it mate , everything is there , Borough of Dacorum is real and still stands written on the building of Hemmel Hempstead Council (Dacorum means Dacian ancestors of Romanians, it's a fact I'm not debilitating these my cousin) Everyone from West were educated about Est there's only paria people isn't it ? Church manipulate us since Great schism (Church splitted in Catholic and Orthodox almost a thousand years ago.

[@Wotsitorlabart]

@@emildinu242 All well and good but there is absolutely no link to Morris dancing in any of that. And the earliest reference to Morris dancing in England is from 1448. There are no historic links to pagan fertility rites or indeed to the Moors - but it is still an old custom.

[@emildinu242]

@@Wotsitorlabart OK agree with that but you cannot deny the presence or Dacian and Thracian cohorts in Britannia you are looking only for cristal clear evidence please go visit Chester Roman museum or Birdoswald (there's a child grave named after the last Dacian King Decebalus)Hadrian's Wall it is written in England History and undeniable my friend

[@emildinu242]

Go on KZbin and type in : Calusul Romanesc Traditie si in Anglia

[@Wotsitorlabart]

The origins of morris dancing can be traced back to the 15th century as a royal court entertainment - quite unlike the modern dance. It is not pre-Christian, not a fertility dance, nothing to do with sacrifices or evil spirits and is not ritualistic. Rather sad that the dancers in the video, who really should know better, continue to spout this nonsense.

[@ontherocksredrose]

I was raised in that village and heard a few versions of the origins of Morris but never your version. Do not disparage people keeping our traditions alive.

[@Wotsitorlabart]

​​​@@ontherocksredrose I am not disparaging them - I am simply pointing out that there are clear historical links back to the mid 1400's and the Royal court. From there it spread out into the surrounding communities over the course of the 16th century. The idea of pagan fertility origins was put about by late 19th / early 20th century folklorists - with absolutely no evidence. It is just a bit sad that the custodians of the tradition continue to repeat this false history. Michael Heaney's book 'The Ancient English Morris Dance' is a definitive telling of the history of the morris tradition - the story literally begins on the 19th May 1448.

[@Wotsitorlabart]

​​​@@ontherocksredrose It's not a 'version' it is historical fact. Talk of pagan fertility origins came from late 19th / early 20th century folklorists - but they believed every folk custom had such origins. I am not disparaging your fellow villagers but they really should know the true history of the tradition they are trying to preserve. See Michael Heaney's 'The Ancient English Morris Dance' and Professor Ronald Hutton's ' Stations of the Sun'..

[@ontherocksredrose]

@@Wotsitorlabart Yes...all versions.

[@Wotsitorlabart]

​​@@ontherocksredrose No. Once again this is actual historical research carried out over the last 30 or more years often by people with a background in the morris tradition. They have looked at evidence from royal, church, trades guilds, town and private archives. A clear path is evident from the Royal courts (1458 - 1540) to guilds and parish sponsorship in towns (1540 - 1600) and finally villages from 1600 onwards. The dance can be seen to spread out from London to the neighbouring towns and then the villages and onwards across the country. Nothing pre-Christian. Nothing to do with pagan fertility dances. But of course if you have any evidence to prove pagan origins then I am sure The English Folk Dance and Song Society would love to hear from you.

[@charlotteantiquepowerengin6277]

I struggle to understand this as dancing.

[@Wotsitorlabart]

Really? How odd.

[@1977ajax]

Oh well, never mind.

[@charlotteantiquepowerengin6277]

@@1977ajax my mind is at ease now. Thank you. It has been a troubling two years with all this worry about the Morris Men and their leaping, jingling, and stick touching.

[@scrimshank1]

What else would you call co-ordinated movement to the tempo of the music? And then there is Break Dancing.

[@charlotteantiquepowerengin6277]

@@scrimshank1 I suspect it has something to do with satire. What the Brits lack in coordination, they make up for with brilliant satire and irony. Somewhere back in history, this was surely all a big gag poking fun at someone.