There are many different theories of where morris dancing came from. Whilst doing a project on the subject I found that Border Morris evolved from the poor in the Welsh/English border regio. They would black their faces and put on their most raggedy clothes and go and dance and sing in the streets. Their "costume" was so that their neighbours didn't recognise them, so they didn't lose face.

Of course there is the theory of moorish connections. King Richard came back from the wars with some dark skinned people who danced, wearing outlandish clothes.

Another theory ties in with fertility. Hitting the ground with sticks, encourging the crops to grow. Sticks were also used to make holes to plant the seed.

Pagan rituals also come in. Dances were done in two's (Man & Woman) three's (man, women and child) fours (man, woman and two children) etc. Three, five, seven and nine also figure strongly even today in pagan rituals.

Fasinating subject.

Gillie
(ex Morris Dancer)