The Helier Morris Men and their female counterparts the Jersey Lilies began their annual May Day Island Tour – a day of celebratory dancing all around Jersey – at 6 am at Mont Orgueil in St Martin. They went on to dance in 13 different locations, including Liberation Square, over a period of 12 hours, finishing at around 6 pm at St Brelade’s Parish Hall.
In Jersey and across the UK, where similar events were held yesterday, the dancers dress in colourful tattered clothes and hats and carry hankies or sticks. Many often colour their faces black.
Morris dancing originated in England in the late 15th century but is now danced around the world including in Canada, the US, Australia and Japan.
