Morris Dancers with painted black faces

[KAZ]

I witnessed a morris dancer being called a racist the other day because he had a painted black face. this is a well known Border morris tradition which goes back to when people used to dance to earn extra money and painted their faces with boot polish/soot in order to be anonymous, painted faces also added to the mystery and mischieviousness of the dancers. Morris dancers are great people, full of fun, and they care so much about carrying on this wonderful English tradition. it is such a shame that some people can be so narrow minded.

[B00]

oh really do spock?

You aren't one by any chance are you?

[Doc_Spock]

Hiya Boo. No, but I do enjoy watching them.

[Octavius]

I might have lost a bit of the thread here, but I think B00 was asking you if you were a complete pr1ck

So perhaps you misunderstood the Q.

[Cantadora]

I think Spoc thought that was a joke...

http://www.jewishjokes.net/joke.php?id=769&lis ttype=4

[KAZ]

Just watched "coconutters" Oh dear.......................

[monkeyeyes]

Don't diss the Coconutters..............!!

[KAZ]

sorry.

[Octavius]

You coconutterist you!

[Cantadora]

Stone the Crows!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?vyMDFRhi3y4k&hl=en

Stone the Crows

[Aprilis]

YAAAAY! Octavius was a Morris Dancer!!! A pat on the back Oct for coming out of the closet and going public. It can't have been easy for you ;-)

Lmao @ Spock & B00.

Looks like my admission has opened the door for more pro-Morris people to admit to liking them. I've done something positive today...I've made the Morris dancing appreciation fraternity come out from the shadows. LOL

[B00]

hey, we'll have less of the "oh dear" at our beloved Coconutters!!!

[Octavius]

To be fair, I�ve just looked at some pictures of the coco-nutters.

Summink aint right there. They look like oompa-loompa wannabes! They certainly look the �nutter� part.

[B00]

hehe Octavius, you're right, they really aren't all there. But to be fair whilst they morris dance extremely well (ok, i admit, i dont know what a bad morris dancer dances like), they do play laughs and raise astonishing amounts for various local charities.

As a local, im quite proud of 'em- yes they're barmy but it's what us northerners are good at- being simple ;-)

[Aprilis]

That's really great B00, but I do have to confess to preferring the Wolfshead & Vixons.

[Aprilis]

Vixens even!

[KAZ]

Hey Hey, They are all great......... even if a particular style isn't your cup of tea, its all good fun!
Morris on!!!!!!

[KAZ]

Closing question now, Thanks for all your comments xx Bye Bye

[beso]

Australian Aboriginal dancers sometimes paint their faces white. Nerver heard anyone accuse them of racism,

[weggiewabbit]

I agree with Quizmonster. What the Hell is the matter with some people these days? Morris dancers are just a traditional entertainment. I first saw them in about 1966 in Bampton, Berkshire, at Whitsun, [the pubs were open all day, which was rare in those days], and to suggest that they are in any way racist is incredibly stupid. The ones I first saw stopped at every pub for a half (or was it a pint?). Harmless fun.

[weggiewabbit]

I'm sure that almost everyone must know that "Morris Dancing" is derived from "Moorish Dancing", so "blacking-up" merely adds authenticity to the proceedings.