Wimborne Folk Festival 2007: Part 1

Traditional Folk Dancing performed by Hunters Moon,Phoenix Morris, Bourne Bumpers, Steps In Time, Bourne River at the Wimborne Folk Festival 2007

History of the Wimborne Folk Festival

Founded in 1980 and held in the shadow of the gracious 12th century Minster Church of St Cuthburga, the annual event of Traditional Folk Dance and Song has become the focal point for the largest gathering of dance teams and musicians in the South of England. For the old town of Wimborne Minster, the festival is considered by many to be the major event of the year and is highly regarded nationally as one of the largest events of its kind in the country.

This very colourful spectacle of dance and music was first held in August 1980 as a one day event and was such a success that plans for a bigger event soon followed. The event is based on the town centre streets and has its own very unique atmosphere, it regularly attracts many thousands of visitors from all over the UK and of course from the rest of the world, proving that even in this day and age an event of this kind based on tradition can attract crowds of over 30.000 people and has stood the test of time. Visit Wimborne Folk Festival website http://www.wimbornefolkfestival.co.uk

Morris Dancing

May Day (1st May) is traditionally the start of the Morris Dancing year. The Morris Dance itself is believed to have evolved from ancient fertility rites, although the present dance is more recent. The name "Morris" may be a corruption of the word "Moorish" a reference to the way dancers black their faces and supposedly resemble Moors.

Morris dancing in Victorian England was in a general decline until a man named Cecil Sharp became interested in collecting and recording traditional folk dances and music. It is largely from his collection that today's dances and their many variants are drawn. Morris sides often choose to dance one of two styles, either Cotswold or Border. Yet vital to any Morris dance are bells, handkerchiefs and sticks; visually attractive as they are, though their true purpose is to scare away troublesome fairies and demons.

Among Morris sides there will always be lurking a curious animal figure invariably a 'Obby Oss' usually appearing on May Day, and even dragons and peculiar bull-like animals!

Discover more Dorset traditions in the book 'Dark Dorset Calendar Customs', by Robert Newland, now available at Amazon.co.uk. Visit the Dark Dorset website, http://www.darkdorset.co.uk or blog http://darkdorset.blogspot.com
and open the door to a world of fascinating folklore and legends.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Border
• Morris
• Dancing
• Folklore
• Customs
• Wimborne
• Folk
• Festival
• Dark
• Dorset
• Darkdorset

[KrisHughes1]

It's wonderful to see so many traditions alive and growing!

[Kamilla240]

looks like fun! :)

[GaladedridDamodred]

Is it weird that I find this kind of spooky?

[chastemoon]

Hunters Moon always pull a large audience. There is a great DVD of them you can get from Morris Dancers of England website. HM also appear in the Dark Dorset book Calendar Customs which I recommend to anyone who is interested in traditions like morris dancing on May Day. See the Dark Dorset website for more info.

[melonbiggs]

The first tune is Cuckoo's Nest and the second is Chameleon (Shave The Monkey do a version of it on their Mad Arthur album, if you've ever heard of them?!)

[MuzicGuyz]

I love Wimborne, it's my village and it's the best in Dorset!!

[Lizzieful]

Yaaay Wimborne :D

[jpfiddle2]

Does anyone know the name of the first two tunes?

[jamessut]

O.o im watching tis video on the day of the 2008 folk festival

[Allamagoosa]

Fantastic Video