WE WHO WANDER THE HILLS

Who are we?

Wild Hearted Women Celebrating The Celtic Wheel Of The Year Through Energetic Dance, Music and Song.




Where are we?

We are based in the beautiful Malvern Hills that straddle the counties of Herefordshire & Worcestershire. The Malvern Hills are famous for it's pure Spring Water, creative Artists, Musicians and Writers. They are also home to a few Witches..



What we Do

We celebrate and honour the Celtic Wheel of the Year - Mother Earth's natural cycle of Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter (Birth,Flowering,Harvest and Death).
We do this by attending Folk Festivals and Days of Dance, Alternative & Pagan events and small private gatherings where we may do a small ceremony, crafting project or simply make merry.



Wheel of the Year image - A.Spirit.Moon(instagram)


What we wear

Our look is inspired by the natural woodland shades of greens and browns and we wear garlands around our heads of foliage and flowers that changes subtly with the seasons.




We wear lighter, green dresses from Spring Equinox to Autumn Equinox to honour the fertile Maiden and Mother aspects of the Goddess and then change to black dresses during the Winter to honour the Crone aspect of the Goddess and the returning of all things to the darkness of the Earth for rest, stillness and renewal.




Did you think Morris dancing was all about white hankies and bells?

We're not that kind of Morris! We dance in the Welsh Border style which is darker, more edgy and tends to appeal to the more rebellious and wild of nature. We like sticks but without the jingle.....so it feels more like what we imagine ritualistic dance would have been to our ancestors and Celtic tribes.
We give a nod to the traditional Welsh Border dress in our outfits by wearing hand made 'tatter' skirts (rather than the traditional Tatter Jackets). But we've replaced the top hats for something more pre industrial.




Why the name Hawthorn & Hare ?

Hawthorn is a magical tree of Great Britain often associated with the realm of the Fae and the Celtic Festival of Beltane - the beginning of Summer. It blossoms at the beginning of May and produces blood red fruit in Autumn so is closely associated with being a tree of the Goddess and fertility. It has a wealth of Folklore surrounding it and in traditional Herbalism is used as a heart strengthener and healer. It can grow and survive in the harshest of conditions and is often shaped by the wind on exposed moors and rugged mountains making it a symbol of resilience and defiance as well as beauty.



The Hare is a magical creature often associated with the Goddess. Folklore and superstition tell many stories of Witches that would shapeshift into hares to avoid detection and capture .....or was it just to get to their destination quicker! In some Folklore the maiden Goddess of Spring is said to appear on May eve as a white hare or white deer in the greenwood.



Can you join us?

Yes! We are energetic, lively and strive to give a good quality but fun performance. If your a creative musician or potential dancer wanting to unleash your inner warrior Goddess then come and give us a try! Dance experience is handy but not necessary as we can teach you all you need to know.
We are currently a female only dance side but welcome both male and female musicians.



We welcome those who are lit up by our vision - there are all kinds of Morris sides out there for all shapes, sizes and tastes....so choose one that truly resonates with your Soul .If Hawthorn & Hare calls to you then message us to chat!





Where and when do we practice?

Thursday evenings 7pm till 9pm in Malvern - currently Poolbrook Village Hall.
We invite prospective members to come along and watch a practice and then give a 4 week taster to see how you get on and if it's your thing.
Warning - Morris dancing is a bug that once caught is hard to cure! You may become addicted to the ways of the dance.....




Do you belong to a side already but would like to be involved?

We understand the urge to 'Morris Tart' ! As long as your other side has no problem we are happy to welcome some part-timers into Hawthorn & Hare. It helps with being more resilient for events and if your side isn't dancing out when we are then it's a win-win for you! We encourage cross side friendship and collaboration and can also be great for those Summer pub dance outs. Lets chat....

Hawthorn & Hare are paid up members of The Morris Federation with Insurance Morris Federation Resource Website