Morris dancer phobia

[Disa13]

This is honestly not a joke. I was talking to my friend earlier and she reminded me about her phobia of Morris dancers. It might sound ridiculous but she finds them very creepy. I'd forgotten, but she was telling me about a time she was in a pub and some came in, so she ran downstairs to hide from them, but one came jingling down the stairs to the loo. She described it as "like the scene in Jurassic park." We had a bit of a joke about it and I kept saying "jingle jingle jingle" and she found it very funny.

I ended up reading about them on Wikipedia, I hadn't known much about the tradition or that different types of Morris dancing are from different parts of the country.

I wanted to ask aibu (is my friend being unreasonable) to be freaked out by Morris dancers? Or is it quite reasonable in that it could be likened to clown phobias, which aren't that uncommon. Personally, I can't stand Ronald McDonald, I find him a bit sinister. Now I'm in a silly mood, I wanted to ask if anyone else has a phobia of slightly irrational or silly things.

Also, if anyone has any suggestions to help her overcome her fear of Morris dancers, they would be much appreciated.

Omg!! I thought it was just me!

I wont leave my house on mayday for fear of the fuckers and their bastard wooden horse thing.

I blame Edward woodward for my fear, but there is something sinister about them.

I do know someone who is a morris dancer, he is quite off but im pretty sure its just an excuse for a piss up

Haha this is a brilliant phobia (although not for your friend I suspect). I knew someone who dated a guy that was genuinely petrified of bananas...

I’m sure I’ve recently watched an episode of Come Dine With Me where one of the contestants had the same phobia.. which one of you was it 🤔

Warmheyerette Morris is traditionally male. There are women's sides now, but I am not surprised that your local side did not encourage women. Goes with the territory.

A phobia is by definition irrational. If she really wants to get rid of it, CBT may help.

/I love 'em, especially Beltane Border Morris - Black costumes and top hats with crow feathers.

@FatimaMunchy. It depends which Morris tradition and association they belong to. There are I believe three and one is ultra traditional

[quote gurteee]I loved this film;:

Morris: A Life With Bells On

www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/4564321.morris-dance-movie-gets-national-release---thanks-oxford-petition/[/quote]
I hope it's better than that awful Dickens doc he fronted. Mark Kermode did a fabulous review of that one

The nastiest woman I have ever met was an ex Morris dancer.

@Bellesavage Historically it's more about seasonally unemployed labourers keeping the wolf from the door by being paid to dance. See Cecil Sharp's account.

Couldn't believe when I saw this thread.....thought it was just me.

Absolutely hate them...no one else gets it who I tell either.
Just thinking about them gives me a weird , angry feeling.

Got to love MN!

Are there really that many itinerant Morris dancers wandering around that it becomes an issue avoiding them??

I love Morris dancers! I think they're brilliant.

I once got it in my head that I should become a Morris dancer (there are lots of groups with ladies in around here) because I was worried they were dying out and no one was joining them anymore. The slight flaw in the plan is my total lack of rhythm and co-ordination. I'd be dangerous flinging sticks around.

Your friend is being very unreasonable. The cure is to join a Morris dancing troupe. Maybe.

I always think of this when I think of Morris dancers

m.youtube.com/watch?v=qfNDkUIIPck

My son (32 6 foot 3 big guy generally fearless) absolutely hates them!
We live in a very old south east city which does have them on bank hols and similar.
I didnt know about his phobia till one bank holiday he asked me to pop to the local shop for beer and I said why cant you go lazy?
To which he replied "Morris is out there".

My parents were both Morris dancers. I can see why they might be a bit creepy to some but I love them.

Thanks for posting that @CounsellorTroi.

I have had that song in my head for the last 2 weeks as it's one of my favourite Two Ronnies sketches, and I was showing it to my husband.

I had just about got it out of my head.. now it's back!

Yes, Morris dancers are a bit Wicker Man.

shudder

Rochester has a sweeps festival and Morris dancers from all round the country come and perform. I haven't been for years, but there were several blackface groups, who were amazing, really kind of aggressive and biker looking in dance.
I know these groups were being accused of racism because of the black face, which actually represented the earth and went back hundreds of years, hopefully they still perform. I love the history and folklore of it all.

@Janegrey333Yes, it all stems from the same thing, worship of mother earth and encouraging fertility, fascinating stuff.

This freaks me out

www.northwichguardian.co.uk/news/10551472.dancing-crows-draw-crowds-in-moulton/

So pleased I'm not alone! Growing up in a small village didn't help my phobia with them popping up at fêtes and outside the local pub with no bloody warning. (A friend's dad was one and I didn't know till I came downstairs one morning after a sleepover to find him in full nightmarish outfit)
They used to make me go clammy and shaky, but now I just have the strong urge to run far away, especially when I can hear the bells and the rustle of their leg feathers and those bashing sticks near by DF tried to cure me by taking me to folk/Morris meet one year, it was awful. Everyone thought my fear was very funny, but as a small child it was absolutely terrifying.

I think I’d like to have a go. 🤷‍♀️

Grew up in South Northants, in the countryside, in the 80s and 90s. If ever there was a fete, or a country show, or a wedding, the Morris would be there. I used to find them hilarious.

I hadn't seen the two Ronnie's sketch. Quite funny but the music is all wrong. Should be an accordion, and possibly a pipe and table.
I loved 'My life in Morris' but my mother disapproved because it made fun of one of our traditions, as if grown men with flowers in their hats, bells on their legs and sticks or hankies wasn't funny in itself.

Tabor, not table.