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Well, it’s not quite that dramatic, but I was certainly overcome by chants of “You What???” when someone mentioned to me the legend that is the Abbots Bromley Horn Dance!
Strange as it sounds, this actually exists.

History

The Horn Dance, so called because the dancers carry deers' antlers, was first performed at Barthelmy Fair in the Staffordshire village of Abbots Bromley in 1226, and despite the obscurity of the concept, it’s still going 777 years later.Even more impressive is the fact that, as far as records confirm, it’s only been cancelled once (in the 1920s).
And that was only because one of the dancers had died and the musician was ill!

...and this is what they do...

The dance consists of a number of morris-type dancers (chosen from among the village population) - in the roles of six deer men, a hobby horse, a bowman, and Maid Marian.
The dancers follow a 10-mile course and perform the ritual in 12 different locations in and around the village, whilst the musician plays tunes such as “The Farmers Boy” and “Uncle Mick” on a melodeon, with accompaniment from a triangle.

The deer men spend 12 hours wearing sets of antlers that range in weight from 16lb of the lightest, to a whopping 25lb (a stone and a half!) for the Leader’s Horns.
How they have shoulders left at the end of the day is beyond me!

The horns are kept at Bromley Church

Incidentally, the horns haven’t changed since that very first Wakes Monday parade.

Family tradition

The recent history of the event is surprising to say the least.

Since the early 1800s, Abbots Bromley inhabitants, the Fowell family, have had the honour bestowed upon it of providing the lead deer man.
He then selects the other dancers from the locals.

In days gone by, only family members were involved in the dance, and to some extent, that tradition is kept up.

...but what's it all mean?

Who knows?
Nobody has really got a handle on it, except to say there's got to be a fertility thing going on, hasn't there?
There usually is!

Thanks to Eric Roy for use of his photos

The event takes place every year around the beginning of September, and packs out the village. In the past, tourists from as far afield as Indonesia and Canada have viewed the spectacle, and tourists can't get enough of it! For more details, see:

Roger Jarman tells the story of the Abbots Bromley tradition to Den Siegertsz, and why virgins should beware it...