The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #111573   Message #2352213
Posted By: Les in Chorlton
29-May-08 - 02:20 PM
Thread Name: the Independent on morris dancing
Subject: RE: the Independent on morris dancing
It seems clear that what turned into Morris escaped from the Courts of the Aristocracy around the 15 Century (See Ronald Hutton, The Stations of the Sun, p 264 - 265).

It got loose and people have kept it going on and off ever since. I think that is a great story and owes much to the men and women of the Morris and nothing at all to pagan or pre-Christian origins.

If some dancers want to connect with Earth Mother Gods, the Power of Nature, The Cosmos and so on, most people call that religion, and once again it's none of my business. Perhaps they will end up praying to the Laws of Gravity.

Everything was made up I suppose, but I think some kind of consensus exists, ( how silly is that?) that folk songs and folk dances have been passed though communities and changed significantly. I think some part of the consensus also thinks we have a living tradition into which I guess Goth Morris falls. Welcome, who could say otherwise.

But so much rubbish has been shared about the origins of old songs and dances that many of us are sceptical about people who even mention pagan and pre-Christian anything.

Wassail
Les