morris dancing began in england in the 15 th century when it was part of the celebrations held at crop planting or harvesting times. It was well known in shakespeare's time but by the end of the 19th century it had almost disappeared.
At that time only a small number of people practiced it in villages in the english midlands. Since then it has been increasing in popularity in england and the USA where people form all professions join together to celebrate the changing seasons. The dancers known as teams wear bells wave handkerchiefs or sticks and dance to simple tunes.