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[Abbots Bromley .com Horn Dance]

The Abbots Bromley Horn Dance
A Little Local History:

The Horn Dance is performed on Wakes Monday, the first Monday after the first Sunday after the 4th of September. The dance, which dates back to Anglo-Saxon times is to commemorate the granting of hunting rights to the villagers in Needwood Forest. Alteration to the calendar moved the then 3 day event from August when it used to be a fertility dance - hence why the horns visit local farms during the day. (Although dating to around 1065, mystery surrounds the legend of the horns.)

Its is performed on the roads in and around the Blithfield parish, starting at 8:00am by taking the reindeer horns from their display in the Church of St. Nicholas, they return to the church after a final tour of the village at 8:00pm.

The 12 dancers and musicians dress in Tudor costume. Six men balance the 11th century reindeer antlers on their shoulders, a seventh rides a hobby-horse, a 'fool' capers in multi-coloured motley, with them are a boy with bow & arrow, and a girl. Their dance is accompanied by an accordionist and a triangle player.

A carnival atmosphere is present all day with various organisations showing their wares on the village green and underneath the Buttercross. Each year, many people visit during the day, and the five village pubs always have a very busy night.

Further Reading - A History of Abbots Bromley, E.R. Shipman B.A., 1996, Abbots Bromley Parish Council.