14 Aug 2014

MORRIS DANCERS

Letter : M

Throughout history, the Morris seems to have been common. It was imported from village festivities into popular entertainment after the invention of the court masque by Henry VIII. The word Morris apparently derived from “morisco,” meaning “Moorish.” Cecil Sharp, whose collecting of Morris dances preserved many from extinction, suggested that it might have arisen from the dancers’ blacking their faces as part of the necessary ritual disguise.

While I was in Eastbourne we went to a  Lammas festival, a festival of the wheat harvest, and of course watched the Morris dancers.



Their faces were painted in black






After their dancing performance, people joined in and all danced together.



This one looked quite impressive !

It was a lot of fun !

Jenny Matlock
more participants at Jenny Matlock's Alphabet Thursday

13 comments:

  1. Hi Gattina .. it looked fun and am glad you posted the photos ... cheers Hilary

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  2. So interesting, Gattina. I had no idea the word Morris may have originated with the word Moors. I can see that a few Morris dancers still blacken their faces.

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  3. Fascinating post of the Morris Dancers for M and great shots ~

    artmusedog and carol (A Creative Harbor)

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  4. Interesting. What a fun tradition...

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  5. Morris dancing is still a popular tradition in England. I have never seen a Morris dance. It looks interesting.

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  6. I went to Lammas but had to drive 2 hours.

    Coffee is on

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  7. What fun! I'd love to see this as an adult, but I think it would be kinda scary as a child. Love the photos.

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  8. It looked like a lot of fun. Hope you enjoyed a dance yourself.

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  9. Very interesting post. Morris from Moors. I wouldn't have guessed that one.

    Take 25 to Hollister

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  10. Interesting. I've never heard of them.

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  11. Fascinating post...had not heard of the Morris traditions♪ http://lauriekazmierczak.com/mini-moon/

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  12. Wow. What a marvelous post for the letter M.

    I love learning from you!

    You are a wonderful teacher!

    Thanks for a fun and interesting link for the letter M.

    A+

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