Staffordshire horn dancers keep ancient tradition alive
Brandishing their horns to dance through the streets, villagers in Staffordshire kept up a tradition dating back almost 800 years.
People came out of their homes and took to the streets of Abbots Bromley to watch the annual Horn Dance.
After collecting the horns from St Nicholas Church in the morning, the dancers performed routines to music provided by a melodeon player throughout the village and its surrounding farms and pubs yesterday.
Abbots Bromley Parish Council clerk, Sarah Meads, said: "The horn dance happens every year. It lasts for about 12 hours.
"It's a really old tradition in the village and has been going on since 1226.
"It's a big deal in the village. Lots of people come out to watch and people come from as far away as America to see the dancing." The group of horn dancers includes six Deer-Men, a Fool, Hobby Horse, Bowman and a Maid Marian.
They walk 10 miles around the village performing for spectators.
The horn dance was first performed in Abbots Bromley at the Barthelmy Fair in August 1226.
It is one of the few ritual rural customs to survive the passage of time and takes place on Wakes Monday every year.
Other attractions on the day include exhibitions and craft stalls.
A carbon analysis carried out discovered that the antlers used in the dance date back to the 11th century.
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