Not guilty. The name “Morris” comes from the word “morisco," meaning "Moorish." It was introduced into England by Eleanor of Castile, queen of Edward I. In Henry VIII reign it formed an essential part of most rustic and parochial festivities. A common feature is that the dancers attend the needs of a pagan god who celebrates his revival after death and the dances are supposed to have magical power and bring good luck wherever they perform. Sometimes there is a May Day procession including a man-horse, where the central figure, "Oss Oss," is a witch doctor disguised as a horse and wearing a medicine mask. The dancers are again attendants who sing the May Day song, beat drums, and in turn act the horse or dance. Dances include Bean Setting, Leap Frog, and Laudanum Bunches. Solo Morris dances are called Morris jigs; an example being the Shepherds' Hey. No Morris dance festival is complete without a sword dance in which the dancers weave their swords into intricate patterns. .
