The bit about being sniped: you know it's going to be one of *those* gigs when your shirt suddnely lights up with lots of little bouncing red dots. Time to make a swift exit, or at least, duck under someone bigger than yourself!
Perhaps it was to distinguish themselves from more nefarious disguised or blacked-up characters, like poachers etc., so as not to be shot or otherwise come to grief. Just an idea.
fynnjamin has got the right answer. As the Authority Himself, Sir Terry Pratchett says, "They [the Morris men] carried sticks and wore white clothes with bells on them, to stop them creeping up on people."
Q. Why do Morris Dancers wear bells?
Q. Why do Morris Dancers wear bells?
A. So they can annoy blind people as well!!
# Posted on June 30th 2009 by Cathal Buí Mac Giolla Ghunna
Re: Q. Why do Morris Dancers wear bells?
Not to keep themselves awake then?
# Posted on June 30th 2009 by Skull Duggeraigh Dubh
Re: Q. Why do Morris Dancers wear bells?
he give snipers a fair chance in the dark.
# Posted on June 30th 2009 by CDNMoose
Re: Q. Why do Morris Dancers wear bells?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8Q9dz1kse8
# Posted on July 1st 2009 by Fiddle Fancier
Re: Q. Why do Morris Dancers wear bells?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Butterworth
Pleased note the bit about being sniped through the head.
# Posted on July 1st 2009 by Fiddle Fancier
Re: Q. Why do Morris Dancers wear bells?
*Please
# Posted on July 1st 2009 by Fiddle Fancier
Re: Q. Why do Morris Dancers wear bells?
The bit about being sniped: you know it's going to be one of *those* gigs when your shirt suddnely lights up with lots of little bouncing red dots. Time to make a swift exit, or at least, duck under someone bigger than yourself!
# Posted on July 1st 2009 by Mark Harmer
Re: Q. Why do Morris Dancers wear bells?
Don't worry, they don't remember why either...
# Posted on July 1st 2009 by prossignol
Re: Q. Why do Morris Dancers wear bells?
lepers had bells
# Posted on July 2nd 2009 by drone
Re: Q. Why do Morris Dancers wear bells?
Because they like to play with their ding-a-ling-a-ling . . .
# Posted on July 2nd 2009 by Sugarfoot Jack
Re: Q. Why do Morris Dancers wear bells?
Perhaps it was to distinguish themselves from more nefarious disguised or blacked-up characters, like poachers etc., so as not to be shot or otherwise come to grief. Just an idea.
# Posted on July 2nd 2009 by nicholas
Re: Q. Why do Morris Dancers wear bells?
to give you just enough warning to run for cover as they come round the corner...
# Posted on July 2nd 2009 by fynnjamin
Re: Q. Why do Morris Dancers wear bells?
In the mistaken belief that they would keep the faeries away. No need. They'd already seen them coming.
# Posted on July 3rd 2009 by mutatis mutandis
Re: Q. Why do Morris Dancers wear bells?
No, in North-West it were to frighten boggarts.
# Posted on July 3rd 2009 by nicholas
Re: Q. Why do Morris Dancers wear bells?
fynnjamin has got the right answer. As the Authority Himself, Sir Terry Pratchett says, "They [the Morris men] carried sticks and wore white clothes with bells on them, to stop them creeping up on people."
# Posted on July 5th 2009 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Q. Why do Morris Dancers wear bells?
Might be like cats . . . gives the birds a chance to get away safely
# Posted on July 5th 2009 by Alancorsini