Morris dancing is one of England's oldest folk traditions, with records going back to at least the fifteenth century. Dancers — historically male, increasingly mixed — wear distinctive costumes with bells around their legs and perform set dances with handkerchiefs or sticks, often accompanied by an accordion or fiddle. The tradition is particularly associated with May Day (1 May).
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Other British folk customs include sword dancing in the north of England, ceilidh dancing in Scotland and Ireland, and Welsh folk dancing accompanied by the harp. Folk festivals such as those at Cambridge, Sidmouth and Towersey help to keep these traditions alive.
You may be asked which folk dance is associated with bells and handkerchiefs (Morris dancing), or which traditional Scottish dance form is also popular in Ireland (the ceilidh).
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