I don't know how relevant it is to the origins but I've seen Morris Dancers in Lancashire 'beating the bounds' of the parish, they weren't especially dressed up just big hulking farmers with waistcoats and hats with flowers.

As far as I know in ancient times this 'beating the bounds' was to drive out evil spirits. They used bundles of birch or willow twigs as these were supposed to have cleansing properties. I know it's been appropriated by the church in some places but I think it's an older custom than Christianity.