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Tuesday 15 May 2018

And the Ladies go Dancing at Whitsun

In the past, the May/June half term for schools, was called the Whitsun holiday.
This was a traditional time for Morris dancing.
This year Whitsun falls on my sister Lee`s birthday .... 20th. May.
She would have been 60.

 Recently, I was listening to a Tim Hart and Maddy Prior CD of solo recordings.
I love all the music but there is one compelling song with haunting words and melody that I can`t get out of my brain ....
"Dancing at Whitsun."
I was under the mistaken impression that the words referred to a much earlier war, but they are in fact, about events from the 
1st World War.
Here are the words ....
It's fifty long springtimes since she was a bride,
But still you may see her at each Whitsuntide
In a dress of white linen with ribbons of green,
As green as her memories of loving.
The feet that were nimble tread carefully now,
As gentle a measure as age will allow,
Through groves of white blossoms, by fields of young corn,
Where once she was pledged to her true-love.
The fields they stand empty, the hedges grow (go) free--
No young men to turn them or pastures go see (seed)
They are gone where the forest of oak trees before
Have gone, to be wasted in battle.
Down from the green farmlands and from their loved ones
Marched husbands and brothers and fathers and sons.
There's a fine roll of honor where the Maypole once stood,
And the ladies go dancing at Whitsun.
There's a straight row of houses in these latter days
All covering the downs where the sheep used to graze.
There's a field of red poppies (a gift from the Queen)
But the ladies remember at Whitsun,
And the ladies go dancing at Whitsun.



Here is a link to that song.

I decided to do some more research
and this is what I found...

"The tradition of Morris Dancing had been performed exclusively by men for several hundred years. During the First World War, when the male mortality rate in some English towns and villages approached seventy percent, this tradition would have been lost were it not for the women who chose to carry it on. Austin John Marshall has written this poignant song as a tribute to the widows, sweethearts, sisters and daughters of those men, who kept the tradition alive."  
from  
Mainly Norfolk: English Folk and Other Good Music

I am sure my cousin, Joanne and her husband Jonathan, will be interested as they both dance with
The Garston Gallopers
http://www.garstongallopers.co.uk/

The village project to knit or crochet poppies to yarn-bomb the church railings, is going well.
I think at the last count there were nearly 3,000.
Well I have two bags of 100 to add to that total, with another bag on the go.
I have also made a poppy wreath with a straw base.
The white poppy represents those who refused to fight and the purple one represents animals that died.
All part of WW1 centenary events.
When this event takes place in our village I will be sure to take plenty of photos.

Here is another link with lovely old photos.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoYf2hNFMDA


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