Abbots Bromley Antler Dance

Also known as the Abbots Bromley Horn Dance, this is a dance performed by the Abbots of Bromley in Staffordshire, and is performed while holding reindeer antlers near the head. Kurath, G. P. (1972). "Abbots Bromley Antler or Horn dance", in Leach, M. (ed) Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend. 3rd ed. p.3
It is traditionally performed on the Twelfth Day, which has been moved to the Monday after the 4th of September to coincide with Wakes week. 
Six dancers take part, with three using white antlers, and three using red. Alongside the dancers, there is a Maid Marian, a hobby horse, a fool, and a boy with a bow and arrow. Before the dance is performed, the local farms are visited to bring luck, and in one of the farmyards they "deer"-circle (serpentine) before progressing in loop patterns until the leader grunts and they meet and leave in two lines and cross over. 
In the past, other characters such as heys were included, but they've been cut from the dance over time. 
The symbolic colouring, antlers, and the ritual characters of the maid, the fool, and the boy indicate that this dance was once of ritual significance as one of the Animal Dances of Europe. 
== References ==
Category:Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend
Category:Rituals
Category:Dances