An historic newspaper photograph of Deermen (aka Deer Men) dancing the Horn Dance at Abbots Bromley, Staffordshire, England. The folk dance dates back to medieval times, though like some Morris dancing, the dance can now involve a hobby horse, Maid Marian, and a Fool. Though historical records of the ceremony are relatively scarce, carbon dating of the antlers used in the ceremony date to the ceremonial aspect to the 11th century. The ceremony usually takes place on the first Sunday after 4 September. (known as Wakes Sunday) after a blessing at st Nicholas' church.

---

Size: 5315px × 3039px
Photo credit: © Colin Waters / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: 11th, abbots, ages, analysis, antlers, britain, british, bromley, carbon, century, ceremonial, ceremony, church, dance, dancers, dancing, dating, deer, deermen, eleventh, england, english, events, folk, folklore, fool, green, historic, hobby, horn, horns, horse, jester, maid, marian, medieval, men, middle, morris, nicholas, nicholass, pagans, photograph, rituals, st, staffordshire, sunday, tradition, traditions, village, wake, wakes