Caught the Coconutters!

[Focus on Life]

Just did our local Bacup Craft Fair and had a great time, met lots of lovely people, stopped one little tot from crying (which is my main mission at any fair, then their mum thinks I'm a saint!) :)

Tip - guess what? - the lady clog dancer from Lostock Hall danced here today too! - small world

...but the best bit was seeing our local, famous folk dancers, the Britannia Coconutters up close & personal for the first time. Their dance route throughout the Valley is, well, to be honest a pub crawl! And I'm told by those in the know that to qualify as a potential Coconutter, you need to be able to dance - and drink - and still dance when you're drunk! :D

I've blogged some photos of them, do have a look, I hope it brightens your day, it did mine

Shaz x

[BeadsbyLili]

Sounds like you had fun today Shaz (and the gorgeous sunshine!). The Coconutters look as mad as these morris dancers we get at the local folk festival every year ... i think they are called 'mummers' or something but they look quite scary with their black painted faces and voo-doo style feathered hats !

[Tip Top]

It is a small world!!

Looks and sounds like you had a good day - comment left on your blog!!:D

[craftdancer]

Great to see the picture Shaz. I saw the Britannia Coconut dancers at the Albert Hall Festival about 40 years ago - haven't seen them since.

mad as these morris dancers we get at the local folk festival every year ... i think they are called 'mummers' or something but they look quite scary with their black painted faces and voo-doo style feathered hats !

Sounds to me like they might be the Crow Men (can't remember offhand where they are based but I seem to think it's down your way) - they are mad even by morris dance standards, but they're great to watch!

Linda
(been a mad folk dancer for more years than I care to remember!)

[Focus on Life]

[quote=craftdancer;74268]Great to see the picture Shaz. I saw the Britannia Coconut dancers at the Albert Hall Festival about 40 years ago - haven't seen them since.
quote]

Wow it really is a small world isnt it Linda?! Even though I've only lived here 4 years, it made me feel all proud watching em....I felt like a proper "local" at a "local craft fair" selling things for "local people" :mf:

Shaz x

[woodtattoos]

[quote=craftdancer;74268]Great to see the picture Shaz. I saw the Britannia Coconut dancers at the Albert Hall Festival about 40 years ago - haven't seen them since.
quote]

Wow it really is a small world isnt it Linda?! Even though I've only lived here 4 years, it made me feel all proud watching em....I felt like a proper "local" at a "local craft fair" selling things for "local people" :mf:

Shaz x

"This is a local craft fair for local people, we'll have no trouble here. Don't touch the precious things!!"

;)

[Tip Top]

[quote=Focus on Life;74308]

"This is a local craft fair for local people, we'll have no trouble here. Don't touch the precious things!!"

;)


I lived close to Bacup for a number of years, and do you know what Si? It is just like that............. hehehehe!!:D

[Focus on Life]

...LOL...but hopefully my nose isnt quite so piggy :mf:

oink oink

Shaz x

[Tip Top]

Nah, its not!!!!:D:D

[beadsbydesign]

Sounds to me like they might be the Crow Men (can't remember offhand where they are based but I seem to think it's down your way) - they are mad even by morris dance standards, but they're great to watch!

)


We've seen the crow men quite a few times at the whitby folk festival. They are a legend!!

[Tip Top]

Shaz - are they there again next year?:confused:

If so, we are all coming to Bacup (and its pronounced baaaacup not backup hehehehe!):D:D:D

[Focus on Life]

is that like baaaaaaa-lamb?! :sm: LOL

or baaaaaaay-leaf? :)

Oh yes, from what I hear the Coconutters will be out and about every Easter Saturday til Doomsday!

Shaz x

[Focus on Life]

Sounds like you had fun today Shaz (and the gorgeous sunshine!). The Coconutters look as mad as these morris dancers we get at the local folk festival every year ... i think they are called 'mummers' or something but they look quite scary with their black painted faces and voo-doo style feathered hats !

Hey look what I just found in this BacupTimes website - a piece (on the left further down) about The Mummers http://www.bacuptimes.co.uk/ghosts.htm dunno if theyre one and the same but it also mentions blackened faces...

Shaz x

[BeadsbyLili]

Now they do sound really scary - lol ! I dont know, I've been trying to google for pics but cant find anything... but the folk fest is on again in May so I'll watch out for them..... (I'm sure I had a pic from before so if I find it I'll post it !)