As
part of the strong twinning links between the Cities of Oxford and Bonn
in Germany, we have taken part in many exchange visits with the Brückenberger
Trachtengruppe, a folk dance group from Bonn.
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Who
Are We and What Do We Do?
Oxford
City Morris Men perform traditional “Cotswold” Morris Dances collected
from villages in Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire and Northamptonshire.
Morris dancing is a custom with ancient origins, many people believing that it is descended from pagan spring and summer fertility rituals or “good luck” ceremonies. Some of the dances we do today still reflect the origins of these ancient ceremonies, with their apparent emphasis on rebirth at May time, the seeking of good health for the crops and animals, and the hoped for guarantee of continuing fertility for all. What is certain is that morris dancers have been performing in the City of Oxford since the 15th century.
The dances survived in the Cotswold region long after they had ceased to be popular elsewhere. Even here the custom almost died out at the end of the 19th century, but for the efforts of folk dance enthusiasts who began to collect the dances. Oxford played an important part in this revival, as the first serious collecting of these dances was carried out by Cecil Sharp in Headington Quarry, after he had seen morris men perform on Boxing Day 1899.
Oxford Morris Men were founded in 1938 and were formed to compensate for the temporary demise of other Oxford sides at that time. The Oxford costume - red and blue ribbons, white clothing and traditional bell pads is based on that worn by the Headington Quarry Morris dancers at the time. Since 1959 we have had the privilege of wearing the City of Oxford crest on our baldrics - thus becoming
As
part of the strong twinning links between the Cities of Oxford and Bonn
in Germany, we have taken part in many exchange visits with the Brückenberger
Trachtengruppe, a folk dance group from Bonn.
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The City men, and many other Morris sides take part in the traditional
May morning celebrations in Oxford. The men can be found gathering on the
Oxford side of Magdalen bridge to listen to the choir of Magdalen College
singing from the top of the college tower. Dancing begins around 6.15 a.m.
in Radcliffe Square, beside the famous Camera, and continues for nearly
three hours at various locations, including Broad Street, St Giles, and
the Kings Arms! After breakfast most of the teams go off to other events
around the district. In recent years, the festivities have continued from
midday into the afternoon in North Parade, Oxford, just off the Banbury
Rd.
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Wednesday evenings, at 8pm and 9pm
9th May - The White Horse, Broad St, Oxford (8:00pm) Far From The Madding Crowd, Friar's Passage (9:00pm)Other Events
23rd May - venues to be decided
6th June - venues to be decided
20th June - venues to be decided
4th July - - venues to be decided
18th July - venues to be decided
Sat. 28th April - Fair Trade Fair, Oxford, 1pm Cornmarket
Fri. 18th May - The Star, Stanton St. John, dancing from 8pm, with guests from Germany
Sat. 19th May - Oxford Castle, 4.10pm - part of the 'BurgerFest'
Sat. 9th June - noon Jerico, 1.30pm Wolvercote
Sat 16th June - 1pm & 2.30pm Gloucester Green - part of the Children's Society Summer Event
Sat 23rd June - 12:30pm & 1:30pm Oxford Castle
Sat 23rd June - 7pm The White Hart, Dorchester on Thames
Please note: Requests for appearances must be made in good
time in order to ensure availability. At least six weeks notice normally
required.
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Other Morris
Sides
Morris at Yahoo
Duncan Drummond
16 Borough Walk
Abingdon
Oxon
OX14 1HWTel: 01235 528359
Malcolm Austen,e-mail: click here to e-mail the Bagman
11 Corn Avill Close,
ABINGDON,
Oxon,
OX14 2NDTel: 01235 533626
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Many thanks to Brevan Miles for creating this web page in the first place and for hosting it for us for several years after he moved away from Oxford. Any errors or omissions in this edition are the fault of the present Editor, however.
this page updated 16/5/2007