Britannia Coco-nut Dancers of Bacup, accompanied by Stacksteads Silver Band, dance their way around Bacup, UK on Easter Saturday
Easter Saturday, March 30th, 2013. The traditional Britannia Coco-nut Dancers of Bacup, accompanied by members of the Stacksteads Silver Band, dance their way through the streets of the small Pennine town of Bacup, Lancashire, UK. The origins have been lost in time, but it's possible the dances originated with moorish pirates (hence the costume) who settled in the uk and became employed in mining. The custom of blackened faces and 'nuts' on their hands and knees and belt likely resemble the protection used when crawling through the narrow seams in the mines. The different dances they perform are actually folk dances, and the of those, the Garland Dances are spring ritual dances connected with the renewal of crops. Whatever their history, the 'Nutters' are much loved and their appearance, dances and music are quite unique.
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Photo credit: © Emma Wood / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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