Traditional Morris Events
These lists were originally compiled from the Morris Ring Directory index of traditional events. However it was felt that an 'on-line' version would be more useful, and (possibly!) easier to keep up-to-date. Any Morris Side who has an annual event is invited to send details. Please note that the entries are all published in the good faith that the event actually occurs! You should always check with the Morris Side or event organisers before traveling.
Links to the events and contact information is not included, but nowadays a a Google search will probably find a lot of the events. Corrections and updates to:
Tradition is as old as the person who taught it to you.
The Horn Dance - Abbots Bromley -
photographed by
Sir Benjamin Stone 1838-1914. The first written reference to the Abbots Bromley Horn Dance
was for a performance at the Barthelmy Fair in August 1226, is one of the few ritual rural customs
to survive the passage of time. One of the antlers has been carbon dated to the 11th century.
Today the Horn Dance takes place annually on
Wakes Monday - but check their web site!
Thomas Blount's Kidlington M/S, "Antient
Tenures of Land, and Jocular Customs of some Mannors. Made
publick for the diversion of some, and instruction of others."
London 1679
Note that the original citation names Kidlington not
Kirtlington.
Kidlington is about four miles south of Kirtlington, which is a dozen miles
north of Oxford. However it is generally
considered that this was an error in naming Kirtlington. There is a reference to
dancing in Kidlington, Jackson's Oxford Journal, 27 May 1843,3;
the Ale died out in the early 1860s.{See Chandler, pages 179, 181 respectively}
The Ale was started again when Kirtlington Morris was revived
in 1979. The Ale is now a very popular
event among Morris Dancers, taking place at the end of May, beginning of June, each year.