Red Leicester
The Leicester Morrismen also dance Border Morris in winter as Red Leicester!
The white summer kit changes to black trousers and a tattered rag coat,
the straw hats bedecked with flowers become black top-hats or bowlers
with pheasant feathers, the large bell pads become one single string
and our usually white faces are painted red. This mysterious ritual
happens because in place of the summer Cotswold Morris, we now dance
Border Morris. These dances come from the Herefordshire/Wales borders
and are somewhat wilder in the execution.
Why change the kit? The magic of the Morris is mysterious and secret,
and the wearing of tattered coats and red faces means that you cannot
recognize any of the men. Thus anonymity preserves the mystery and any
outrageous acts can only be blamed on the one with the beard!!
Why red? Because Leicestershire is a sheep county and the red is the
Raddle they put on a ram's belly during mating time. Eventually it that
appears on the ewes' backs. Beware ladies!!! You may not know where
Red Leicester are, but everybody knows where they have been!!!
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Leicester Morrismen
