1993: Newsnight - May Day

Dancing Morris men protest outside Parliament over proposals to move the May Day bank holiday to October. This Newsnight report looks back over the history and meaning of May Day, recalls other attempts to abolish it and explains why moving the holiday to celebrate Trafalgar Day in October might upset the French. A studio discussion follows between a Conservative MP who wants to move the date and a hirsute Morris man who derides the idea as nonsensical.

There are several theories surrounding the origins of Morris dancing. One idea is that its name derives from 'Morisco', meaning 'Moorish', and refers to a form of dancing introduced to Europe by Moors arriving from North Africa. Another theory is that performers would 'black-up' as a type of disguise and 'Moor-ish' refers to the fact that this made the dancers look like dark-skinned Moors.

Aspects of this programme reflect the time when it was made.

BBC Archive: Originally broadcast 30 April 1993.