I attended a local apple day, which can involve anything from chopping and pressing apples for juice, through to a communal sit down with a cup of tea and a slice of homemade apple cake.
This was more of a tea-and-cake occasion with a chance for neighbours to catch up and chat (or day I say gossip?). But there was a festive atmosphere provided by The Grimspound Border Morris, a troupe of Morris dancers based in Newton Abbot.
Morris dancing can trace its roots back a long way, back to the 15th Century in a courtly context, but at some point in the 16th Century it was taken up by mere mortals and became a folk tradition. It has its variants in different parts of the world, but here in SW England it had all but died out until it was revived around 1900 or thereabouts.
There are several styles of Morris dancing, and this troupe followed the Border tradition from counties bordering Wales. This can include face paint, ordinary clothes decorated with ribbons or strips of cloth pieces or coloured paper collectively known as ‘raggies’. Border Morris also favours dancing with stout sticks rather than the gentler variants where handkerchiefs are wafted in the air. Bells, it seems, are optional, and the Grimspound Border have done away with them, opting for a more up-to-date steampunk vibe that I think works really well when combined with the traditional feathers and foliage.
Folk traditions have always, and will always, change over time, and with their enthusiastic dancing and charming smiles, the Grimspound Border Morris brightened what had been a drizzly autumn day. In fact, the rain was becoming a nuisance to the musicians, especially the guitarist using an amplifier. I dashed home for an umbrella and stood in as a temporary provider of shelter.
Mrs C used this photo as evidence that I’d joined a band, but alas, it was not so.
The rain persisted, so we cleared the decks in the skittle alley and the dancers adapted their style to make use of the space. In a very British way, this make do and carry on attitude added to the fun, and I enjoyed the day immensely.
The video is cut together from several dances over two performances, one outside and one indoors, and I won’t be winning any prizes for filmmaking, but I hope it gives a flavour of the day.
What other aspects of Devon life shall I cover?
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There’s More?
Well yes.
Over on my blog at michaelcampling.com, I wrote a humorous piece about the possible origins of Morris dancing, so I recommend that you hop over and read that too:
That’s it for this week.
All the best, and I’ll be back with another Postcard soon.
