The Yately Morris Men

David noticed this group in from of a Farnham pub on his way home from work. He told me there were men, with flowers in their hats dancing on the street, with a man in a horse costume running around harrassing people. So naturally, we packed up the kids and headed into town. They were playing music and dancing in front of the Nelson Arms when we found them. When they moved the festivities, inluding the silent but mischievious horse to the Hop Blossom (about two blocks away), we followed them. They are Morris Men. I'm still working on the history, but apparently it's a tradition that has been around for over 500 years. They dress differently in different areas, but generally, they wear bells on their legs, bright colors, and they dance with sticks. The Yately Morris Men have a "fool" and a "horse" in a bandet's mask. Marina and David joined the dancing first, and the last pictures shows Gwen and I joining in the festivities. I don't know what the point is, but it is a lot of fun!!!