DDMM Ale, 6 March 2004

Most Morris clubs have an annual event, sometimes a feast, or sometimes an Ale. 'Ale' is an ancient term used to describe an annual village festival, often organised to raise funds for something like the church, at which everyone would get away from the stresses and strains of life and let their hair down and celebrate for sometimes as much as several days. There was lots of dancing and drinking, and in the 16th, 18th and 19th centuries some of the bigger events used to attract various teams of Morris dancers.
So that's an old-style Ale. For DDMM is usually an evening of dancing with members of lots of other clubs with a meal in the middle of the evening. This year we were lucky to have the full set of Morris Ring officials. You can see 'em all in one of the photos below.

Text © Nigel Strudwick 2004
Photos © Nigel Strudwick 2004

Most Morris clubs have an annual event, sometimes a feast, or sometimes an Ale. 'Ale' is an ancient term used to describe an annual village festival, often organised to raise funds for something like the church, at which everyone would get away from the stresses and strains of life and let their hair down and celebrate for sometimes as much as several days. There was lots of dancing and drinking, and in the 16th, 18th and 19th centuries some of the bigger events used to attract various teams of Morris dancers. So that's an old-style Ale. For DDMM is usually an evening of dancing with members of lots of other clubs with a meal in the middle of the evening. This year we were lucky to have the full set of Morris Ring officials. You can see 'em all in one of the photos below.



		Text © Nigel Strudwick 2004 Photos © Nigel Strudwick 2004