Morris dancing is a form of ritual folkdance that originates in England and dates back to at least the 15th century.
(Rumor has it that Shakespeare makes mention of morris dancing in Henry V and All's Well That Ends Well.)
The fact that it is a ritual, as opposed to social, dance implies that it has other purposes besides being just plain fun.
Fertility, death and rebirth are common themes in morris. In fact, morris dancers everywhere celebebrate May Day
to welcome in the spring.
Morris dancers traditionally dress in all white, wear bells tied to their shins, and carry sticks or hankies. They
dance to live music played on instruments such as the accordian, penny whistle, fiddle and tabor. While many dances have
been passed down over the years, new dances and traditions are being developed by teams everywhere.
Fortunately, morris dancing is no longer considered a misdemeanor!
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