Morris dancers brave chilly conditions at dawn in May Day celebration
- 6 years ago
Female Morris dancers gathered on a hill in East Sussex at the crack of dawn to take part in the traditional May Day celebration.
Video captured on May 1 shows the Shalesbrook Ladies Morris team dressed in brightly-coloured outfits along with bells and large sticks performing the ancient ritual.
The dance is performed on the first day of summer and various actions carry symbolic meanings.
Dancers wave hankies as a way to ward off evil spirits and shake sticks to wake the earth from its winter slumber.
But cold conditions left many wondering if summer really was around the corner.
One dancer said: "In theory, it's the beginning of summer, but I got the frost off my car this morning.
"We've danced in snow, we've danced in good sunshine."
Video captured on May 1 shows the Shalesbrook Ladies Morris team dressed in brightly-coloured outfits along with bells and large sticks performing the ancient ritual.
The dance is performed on the first day of summer and various actions carry symbolic meanings.
Dancers wave hankies as a way to ward off evil spirits and shake sticks to wake the earth from its winter slumber.
But cold conditions left many wondering if summer really was around the corner.
One dancer said: "In theory, it's the beginning of summer, but I got the frost off my car this morning.
"We've danced in snow, we've danced in good sunshine."