Traditional Morris Events: Christmas

We have scoured the internet for confirmed appearances over the Yuletide period. Please let us know of any changes or additions, especially those traditional appearances that are shown as To be confirmed (TBC).

This is the time-of-year for many Guisers and Mumming Plays. Tracking the many performances is difficult ... search the Master Mummers performance index.  We suggest non-Ring mumming groups  notify them of their event. Sword Dancers are also out in force  - see <Sword Dance Union>. Also see this list of Midwinter Sword Dancing from Rattle Up My Boys, a magazine for longsword dancers, kindly provided by its publisher Jeff Lawson. Many are included in the traditional list below but there are several others.  Midwinter Sword Dancing from Rattle Up My Boys.pdf

Enjoy the festivities wherever you are.

November, December, Christmas

• Greensleeves MM ​ : 2nd Saturday in November.  London - Dancing before and after the Lord Mayor's procession -  see their website for details of times & locations
• Wyvern Jubilee Morris : the last Saturday in November - Glastonbury Frost Fayre Timings TBA. The Glastonbury Frost Fayre is An Extravaganza of Seasonal Magnificence When Our Community comes together to Celebrate ‘Peace and Goodwill to All’ at this Festive Time of Year. Stalls and Late night shopping. Starting from 10am officially opened by the Mayor at Mid-day at the Meladrome Stage (top of High Street) and finishing at 6pm. 

• Exeter Morris: Friday 1st December 7:00 pm Exeter Cathedral Xmas market 

• Bedford MM : Saturday 2nd December Higham Ferrers NN10 8BT afternoon tour

• Datchet Border Morris : Saturday 2nd December Christmas on The Green 4:00pm - 7:00pm Datchet Green SL3 9EH
• North Wood MM : Saturday 2nd December Xmas Day of Dance 2022 – London South Bank with guestsides starting 10.45am-4pm at the Xmas Market by city Hall. Full details here
• Green Oak Morris Men : Wednesday 6th December St George and the Dragon - a traditional mummers' play followed by a traditional Yorkshire longsword dance! 8:00 pm to 9:30, pm Jemmy Hirst at the Rose & Crown, 26 Riverside, Rawcliffe, Goole, DN14 8RN
• Shakespeare Morris : Saturday 9th December 12 noon Stratford Victorian Market, various spots around Stratford Town Centre.
• Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers: Tuesday 12th December: Mummers Play Out of Town Tour: 7.15 Plum Pudding (Milton), 8.00 Cherry Tree (Steventon), 8.30 North Star (Steventon), 9.15 Red Lion (Drayton), 9.45 Wheatsheaf (Drayton).
• Barnsley Longsword Team Tuesday 12th December  7:30 pm Dodworth Fire Festival Barnsley Rd, Dodworth, Barnsley S75 3JX with Wath Morris - dancing at 7:30pm followed by procession to Thornley Arms High St, Dodworth, Barnsley S75 3RG at 8:30pm with St George mummers play and carol singing
• Whitchurch Morris : Tuesday 12th December at 8.00pm Christmas Carol Singing evening at The White Swan, 10 High St, Whitchurch HP22 4JT
• Green Oak Morris Men : Wednesday 13th December St George and the Dragon - a traditional mummers' play followed by a traditional Yorkshire longsword dance! 7:00 pm to 7:30 pm - Cross Keys Inn, Wroot, DN9 2BT;
  8:00 pm to 9:00  pm - Angel Inn, Misson, DN10 6EB
• Lassington Oak MM : Wednesday 13th  Highnam Mummers Play 9:00 pm The Beauchamp Arms The Village, Dymock GL18 2AQ (& 20th December Highnam Mummers Play TBC)
• Men of Wight : Saturday 16th December 12 noon St.Thomas Square, Newport, PO30 1SL
• Plymouth Morris Saturday 16th December  Winter Solstice Dance The Dolphin, The Barbican,PL1 2LS 
• Taunton Deane Morris Men : Saturday 16th December Border Day -10.30am to 2:00 pm in and around Taunton town centre
• East Suffolk MM : Sunday 17th December. Dancing in Ipswich, now starting 12 noon at The Plough, 2 Dogs Head St, IP4 1AD.Their annual "Border" tour - as it's been held for over 35 years it qualifies as traditional (though moved as Norwich City playing Ipswich on the Saturday!).
• Adlington Morris Men and Mummers: Sunday 17th December 12 noon  Macclesfield Treacle Market TBC
• Witchmen : Sunday December 17th Winter Solstice dance out with a few friends 1:00 pm at The Lilacs, 39 Church St, Isham, Kettering NN14 1HD
• Datchet Border Morris : Monday 18th December Windsor Christmas Dance 8:00pm The Swan in Clewer SL4 5LG
• Kennet MM : Last Monday before Christmas. Kennet Karols from 8.30 pm 'til late, The Bell and Bottle, Shinfield Green RG2 9EE - 50 traditional carols led by The Kennettes - festive hats optional
• Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers - Tuesday 19th December: Mummers Play Town Tour: 3pm Mayor’s Tea Party; 7.15 pm Punch Bowl, County Hall, 6 Market Place, OX14 3HG; 7.45 pm Brewery Tap,.40-42 Ock Street,  OX14 5BZ; 8.30 pm  Tipsy Mercer, 22 High Street, OX14 5AX; 9.00 pm Kings Head & Bell, 10 E St Helen St, OX14 5EA;
  9.30 pm Broad Face, 30-32 Bridge Street OX14 3HR; 10.00 pm Stocks Bar, Crown & Thistle.18 Bridge St, OX14 3HS
• Barnsley Longsword Team Tuesday 19th December Rapper tour of Barnsley centre pubs. Contact   barnsleylongsword1 [at] gmail.com 
• Bedford MM : Wednesday, December 20th -  "Carols and Capers" Border Morris tour in the North Beds Villages - 7.30 pm The Royal Oak,  23 Bridgend, Carlton MK43 7LP; 8.30 pm The Sun Inn, Grange Road, Felmersham MK43 7EU ; 9.30 pm The Cock, High Street, Pavenham.MK43 7NJ
• Green Oak Morris Men Wednesday 20th December  8:00 pm - 10:00 pm Doncaster Brewery and Tap.7 Young Street, Doncaster, DN1 3EL  A fun mummers' play followed by singsong and merriment!,
• Lassington Oak MM : Wednesdays 13th 9:00 pm The Beauchamp Arms The Village, Dymock GL18 2AQ & 20th December Highnam Mummers Play TBC
• Westminster Morris Dancers : Wednesday, December 20th 7.30 pm Sloane Square SW1W 8SB; 8.00 pm Duke of Wellington, 63 Eaton Terrace, SW1W 8TR; 8.30 pm Antelope, 22 Eaton Terrace, SW1W 8EZ
• Wyvern Jubilee Morris : Wednesday 20th December  7:45pm Prince of Wales, Ham Hill, Stoke-sub-Hamdon TA14 6RW to make merry and celebrate the eve of the Winter Solstice, the shortest day.TBC
• Adlington Morris Men and Mummers : Friday 22nd December Alderley Mummers Play, Stockport tour- 8:00 pm The Queens, 11 Great Portwood St, Stockport SK1 2DW; 9:00 pm Ye Old Vic,1 Chatham St, Edgeley, Stockport, SK3 9ED; 10:00 pm The Magnet, 51 Wellington Road North, Stockport SK4 1HJ.
• Kemp's Men of Norwich : Saturday before Christmas Annual festive dance-out in Norwich - Gathering at The Murderers Timber Hill, Norwich NR1 3LB for a swift one pre-dancing then around the city centre.
• Lord Conyers MM : Last Saturday before Christmas. Christmas Wassail from 1.30pm at The Duke of Leeds, Church Street, Wales, Sheffield, S26 5LQ., performing dances from their Border and Pershore repertoire, their own Yorkshire Longsword and Rapper dances before singing local Sheffield carols inside and then moving to the site of Robin Hood's Trysting Tree in Todwick to perform the Abbotts Bromley Horn Dance at dusk (4:00 pm approx).
• Original Welsh Border Morris : Last Saturday before Christmas. Coach Tour of Worcestershire - Fox Inn, Wichenford, WR2 6NX arrive 08:00 depart 9:00 am; White Ladies Aston arrive 9:30 am depart 10:15 am; Pershore arrive 10:30 am depart 12 noon; Upton-upon-Severn arrive 12:30 pm depart 2:00 pm; Rose and Crown, Seven Stoke pm depart 3:00 pm; Worcester arrive 3:00 pm depart 4:45 pm; Fox Inn, Wichenford arrive 5:15 pm - All timings very approximate!

Boxing Day - Tuesday 26th December

• Anker Morris : 12 noon The Old Chequers Inn, 2 Chequer St, Bulkington, Bedworth CV12 9NH TBC
• Ashdown Forest MM : 1:00 pm, The Hatch Inn, Colemans Hatch, TN7 4EJ
• Bedford MM : as usual opposite Embankment Hotel from 10.30am and then The Swan from 11.30am. Boar's Head Ceremony at noon.
• Blackheath MM : 12:30 pm, Princess of Wales on Blackheath; 1:30 pm, The Crown, Blackheath Village; 3:00pm, The Hare & Billet, Blackheath. (to be confirmed)
• Brackley MM : Boxing Day Tour -  11:00am 11:00am Black Bird, 38 High St, Croughton, Brackley NN13 5LT; 12 noon Brackley High Street; 1:00pm Stratton Arms Main St, Turweston, Brackley NN13 5JX
• Bristol MM : Keynsham Mummers Play - 11.00 am, St John's church Keynsham; 11:30 am Keynsham Library Riverside,Temple Street (Opposite Keynsham Leisure Centre; The New Inn, 12 noon.  [The picture on the right shows Keynsham's St George].TBC
• The Broadwood Men -  performing Morris, Longsword and The Rusper Mummers Play at 11:00 am The Black Horse, Nuthurst, RH13 6LH; 12:30 pm The Star Inn, Rusper, RH12 4RA; 1:30 pm The Frog & Nightgown, Faygate, RH12 4SS
• Chanctonbury Ring MM : Please note - change of first venue - The Castle Inn Hotel, The Street, Bramber, Steyning BN44 3WE We’ll start dancing at 11:00 am, followed by The Steyning Tipteers Mummers’ Play. Then dancing and play are both repeated (never the same twice ...) at the Frankland Arms, Washington RH20 4AL from 12:30 pm.
• Colchester Morris : 12:30 pm The Chequers, The Streeet, Great Tey CO6 1JSf or mulled wine, mince pies ... and morris
• Coventry Morris : dance at around 10:30 at Kennilworth Castle and move to the Queen & Castle pub at around 11:30.am with hosts Chinewrde Morris at their traditional traditional Boxing Day appearance at the Mayor's event
• Dartington Morris : 12 noon 'til 1:00 pm, Totnes (the Plains  opposite Royal Seven Stars). They will be dancing and performing their Christmas Mummers' Play.
• Datchet Border Morris : 10:40 am, Datchet Green, SL3 9EH, including The Mummers Play and Sword dance (longsword or rapper and after in The Red Stag)
• East Suffolk MM :  12 noon, The Sailing Club, Pin Mill, Ipswich IP9 1JP
• East Surrey MM - 12 noon - 12:30 pm The Fox, Coulsdon Common CR3 5QS; 1:15 pm - 1:45 pm The Harrow 235 Stanstead Road Caterham CR3 6AJ; 2:00 pm - 2:30 pm The Hare and Hounds, Godstone RH9 8LN
• Ewell St. Mary's MM : 12 noon, The Famous Green Man; 12:30 pm, opposite The Star; 1:00 pm, The Watch House, Church Street; 1:30 pm, The Spring Tavern; 2:00 pm, The Wheatsheaf, followed by the traditional mid-winter mummers’ play in the yard of the Upper Mill with hosts Chinwrde Morris
• Faithful City MM - 12:30 pm - The Talbot, Bromyard Rd, Knightwick, Worcester WR6 5PH
• Flamborough Sword Dancers : Flamborough, Yorkshire (or is it Humberside?) 11:45 am The White Horse 30 High St, Bempton, Bridlington YO15 1HB; 12:30 pm Headlands Cafe,  Lighthouse Rd, Flamborough YO15 1AR; 1:45 pm Seabirds Inn 14 Tower St, Flamborough,  YO15 1PD; 2:30 pm Victoria Club, Chapel St, Flamborough, YO15 1LH; 3:00 pm Dog & Duck. The Dancers usually support the charity fundraiser, the Flamborough Boxing Day Dip so you may catch them before their regular tour, at North Landing from 10.45 am with the Dip at 11:00 am.
• Foresters Morris & Sword Dancing Club - 11:00 am Bottesford duck race. Seven hundred numbered plastic ducks will be  dropped into the River Devon, at Washdyke Bridge near Station Road and Grantham Road (old A52), Bottesford NG13. They will travel to the finishing line near St Marys Church, off Rectory Lane​
• Gloucester Morris :: 9:30am – The Queens Hotel, The Promenade, Cheltenham GL50 1NN; 10:30 am Imperial Gardens, Cheltenham GL50 1QA;12 noon Dancing and city Gloucester mumming play, Gloucester Cathedral with Lassington Oak MM, and England’s Glory Ladies Morris, etc., and a bonus Mummers play! Followed by refreshments in the Pelican Inn 4 St Mary's St, Gloucester GL1 2QR 
• Golden Star Morris : 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm The Wig N Pen 6 St Martins Palace Plain, NR3 1RN Norwich, Norfolk
• Green Oak Morris Men : 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm - Sun Inn Everton, DN10 5BW
• Greensleeves MM : 12.15 pm Opposite the Rose and Crown, Wimbledon Village SW19 5BA; 1:15 pm The Hand in Hand and The Crooked Billet, Wimbledon Common SW19 4RQ.
• Grenoside Sword Dancers : Our traditional day of dance. We perform the dance at 11am sharp on Main Street outside the Old Harrow Inn S35 8PP - as they have for over 200 years.
• Grimsby Morris :  Details still being finalised Previously 11:45 pm The Wellow, King's Road, Cleethorpes; 12:20 pm The Punchbowl, North Promenade, Cleethorpes; 12.50 pm The No. 2 Refreshment Room (Under the Clock),Cleethorpes Railway Station
  1:30 pm    Willy's Pub / Brighton Slipway, Cleethorpes; 2:00 pm Jonny Donuts, Cleethorpes; 2:45 pm The Nottingham House Hotel , Seaview Street, Cleethorpes - usually followed by music and singing
• Handsworth Traditional Sword Dancers : 11:15 am at Market Square, Woodhouse, S13 7JX. (Next to Cross Street); 12 noon at Handsworth in front of St. Mary's Church, S13 9BZ. Followed by carols in the Chantry Inn 400 Handsworth Rd, Handsworth S13 9BZ TBC
• Harthill Morris  11:00 am, The Bluebell, 4 Woodall Ln, Harthill, S26 7YQ; 12 noon, The Beehive, Harthill, 16 Union St, Harthill, S26 7YH.
• Hartley MM :12 noon,The Black Horse, Stansted TN15 7PR; 1.15 pm The Rose and Crown, Wrotham TN15 7AE - We will be dancing and performing the Firle Mummers Play.
• Headington Quarry Morris Dancers : Their traditional Mummers Play with Rapper Sword Dancing and Hand Bell Ringing at the following public houses within the Quarry Parish: 11:15 am Crown & Thistle, 12:15 pm Six Bells,1:00 pm Chequers and 1:45 pm Masons Arms TBC
• The Traditional Ilmington MM : The side perform the traditional village Mummers play on tour starting in  Shipston-on-Stour, traditionally visiting the sheltered homes for the elderly, then continuing to  The Howard Arms,Ilmington at 1:00 pm and The Red Lion, Ilmington, at 2:00 pm (timings may vary).
• King John's MM : from 12 noon, The Vine Inn, High Street, Old Bursledon SO31 8DJ - Border Morris and Mummers’ Play
• Leicester MM : 12 noon – 2.00 pm as Red Leicester Border - Swithland Boxing Day at The Griffin Inn, Main Street, Swithland LE12 8TJ  (Including a performance of the Sproxton Wooing Play)
• Letchworth MM : 12:30 pm The Fox, Willian; 1:30 pm and 2:30 pm Three Horseshoes, Willian. There's also a music session at The Three Horseshoes afterwards to allow the dancers to re-hydrate with a couple of beers.
• Leominster Morris : 12 noon - Mummers Play & dancing at The New Inn, Pembrdige, HR6 9DZ
• Long Man Morris : 10:30 am - 10:00 am at the Bandstand, The Grand Parade Parade, Eastbourne BN21 3AD.  All proceeds to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution
• Manchester Morris :  from 12:30 pm dancing outside The Fox public house, Brookbottom, near New Mills SK22 3AY, followed by carols inside. TBC
• Martlet Sword & MM : 11:30 am - 12:30 pm East St, Chichester PO19 1HH TBC
• Mendip Morris : 11:00 am, Golden Lion, Broad St, Wrington, Bristol, BS40 5LA; 1:00 pm - The Plough Inn, High St, Congresbury, BS49 5JA
• Men of Wight : 12 noon Arreton Barns Main Road, Arreton, Newport PO30 3AA
• Mersey Morris : from 11:00 am, Boxing Day Revels, Willaston Village Green
• Moulton MM :  Boxing Day Bonanza - 11:00 am Local Mummers Play and Morris Dancing on Stocks Hill Moulton NN3 7TB followed by music and song at The Artichoke 23 Church St NN3 7SP
• North Curry Mummers : 12 noon The Royal Oak The Square, Huntham Lane, Stoke St Gregory, TA36EH; 1:00 pm Queen Square, North Curry Nr Taunton TA3 6LT - The Bird in Hand open for food and singing afterwards.
• North Wood Morris : 12.45 pm, The Harrow Inn 309 Farleigh Road, Warlingham,CR6 9EL
• Plymouth Morris : 12 noon The Brook Inn, Plympton  PL7 1NJ
• Ravensbourne MM : 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm, The Greyhound, Commonside Keston BR2 6BP - 60 years and counting!
• Redcar Sword Dancers : 12 noon at Greatham, Hospital Gates, near Hartlepool, Co Durham,  Sword Dance and Play. A unique event, this could be the only example of a longsword dance and its play still being performed together.  The Hope and Anchor, their ‘watering hole’ and venue of the popular post dance singaround, has reopened !
• Richmond On Swale MM :  annual Boxing Day tour in to Richmond, starting from 11:00 am at the Stanwick Inn Aldbrough St John; 12 noon The Ralph Fitz Randal 6 Queens Road, Richmond DL10 4 AE; 12:20 pm The Bishops Blaize 40 Market Place Richmond DL10 4QL; 1:00 pm The Black Lion 12 Finkle Street Richmond DL10 4QB
• Ripley Morris : 11:00 am, Ripley Market Place;then Red Lion 150 Greenhill Ln, Riddings DE55 4EX; Moulders Arms aka Thack 53 Church St, Riddings DE55 4BX; 1.15 pm.Seven Stars 26 Church St, Riddings DE55 4BX
• Rutland MM : 10:30 am, (to dance at 11:00 am) 11.00am The Horse & Jockey, Manton; 12 noon Market Place, Uppingham; 1.00pm The Crown, Uppingham (room permitting)
• Shakespeare Morris : 1:00 pm will perform their Mummers play at the Fleece Inn, The Cross, Bretforton, Evesham WR11 7JE
• Silurian MM : Annual Tour starting at Ledbury Market House at 11:00 am, probably followed by dance spots at British Camp at 12 noon, The Morgan Pub in Malvern at 1:00 pm (tbc) and The Three Kings pub at Hanley Castle at 2:00 pm usually followed by a music session 
• Southport Swords : approx 12:30 pm Hesketh Arms Botanic Rd, Churchtown PR9 7NA and then across the road to the Bold followed about 2:45 pm by The Guest House, 16 Union Street Southport PR9 0QE
• Spen Valley Longsword Dancers : traditional tour of some of the pubs in Spen Valley to perform the dances and to sing a few songs; (1:00 pm, Wickham Arms, Cleckheaton; 2:00 pm, Spen Victoria C & B Club, Spen Lane, Gomersal -
• Thames Valley MM : Tour of Claygate usually11:30 am Platform 3 (in The Parade, KT10 0PB); 12:15 pm The Foley (Hare Lane, KT10 0LZ);1.00 pm, The Hare & Hounds (The Green, KT10 0JL); 1.45 pm The Winning Horse (Coverts Road, KT10 0JY); from 2.15 p.m The Griffin (Common Road, KT10 0HW) 
• Thaxted MM : 11:00 am, Church Hall, including country dancing for all; 12:00, dancing in the Churchyard followed by songs and music in The Swan; 3:00 pm Dancing at the Maypole.
• Towersey Morris : Dancing at 12 noon, Three Horseshoes, Towersey; Mummers play at 1.00 pm
• Uttoxeter Heart of Oak Morris : 12 noon Uttoxeter market place to dance and present a small play - and perhaps a pint after
• Victory Morris : The Legendary Lagos Motor Club's annual outing will take place as usual on Boxing Day 1:00 pm onwards at The Pembroke, 20 Pembroke Rd, Old Portsmouth, Portsmouth PO1 2NR 
• Wakefield Morris 12.30 pm The King's Arms, Heath Common, Wakefield WF1 5SE
• Wantage Mummers: 10:00 am - 10:30 am Faringdon Market Place, Faringdon Oxfordshire SN7 7HP; 12 noon - 12:30 pm The Bear Hotel, Wantage Oxfordshire; 1:15 pm Childrey Village Hall, High Street, Childrey OX12 9UE . There is always a session in Childrey after the last performance, Although the pub in Childrey has now closed the villagers are determined to do all they can to keep up the tradition, albeit in the village hall.
• Wantsum MM : 11:00 am, Powell Arms Birchington; 12 noon The Bell Inn St Nicholas at Wade; 1:00 pm The Gate Inn Marshside; 2:00 pm The Crown Inn (The Old Cherry Brandy House) Sarre
• Wath-on-Dearne MM : 11:00 am Dancing outside Wentworth Post Office; 11:30 am Carols in The Rockingham Arms 8 Main St, Wentworth, Rotherham S62 7TLs; 12:45 pm Dancing outside The Rockingham Arms; 1:00 pm Procession: 1:15 pm Dancing and mummers plays outside The George and Dragon; 3:00 pm Dancing at the Rugby Club, Wath: 4:00 pm Songs and tomfoolery!
• Wessex MM : 12 noon, Mumming and Morris in Cerne Abbas Village Square DT2 7JG
• West Somerset Morris : 11:00 am Dunster Yarn Market TA24 6SF
• Whitchurch Morris : 12 noon The Red Lion, Little Missenden HP7 0RB
• Yateley MM : 12 noon, The Queens Oak, Church Lane, Finchampstead, Wokingham RG40 4LS; 1:00 pm Dog & Partridge in Yateley GU46 7LR with Yateley Village Mummers

Friday 29th December

• Adlington Morris Men and Mummers: 7:30 pm The Vale Inn, 29-31 Adlington Rd, Bollington, Macclesfield SK10 5JT; 8:30 pm, The Poachers Inn, 95 Ingersley Rd, Bollington, Macclesfield SK10 5RE; 9:30 pm The Cotton Tree Inn, Ingersley Rd, Bollington, Macclesfield SK10 5RE30
• Saddleworth MM : from around 1.00 pm onwards.are out performing the Lordsmere Longsword dance in the pubs of Saddleworth. Usual contact details for the side for those wanting more info.