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Folklore: Abbots Bromley Horn Dance & Wakes Week

Friday, September 4, 2026 4:01

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The Abbots Bromley Horn Dance is one of the most intriguing annual autumn customs that still continues today. Or, more precisely, happens every year on Wakes Monday — the day following the first Sunday after 4 September. This year, 2026, it will be on Monday 7 September.

People gather early in the morning in the Staffordshire village to collect sets of reindeer antlers from the church. Dancers don them, then spend the day in a musical procession through the surrounding parish. They stop at pubs and landmarks before returning to the village in the evening. These days there are also craft stalls, exhibitions and places to get food and drink. I wrote about the Abbots Bromley Horn Dance in my book Rounding the Wheel of the Year:

“Here’s the scene: six deer-men wearing reindeer antlers, a fool, a hobby horse, a bowman and Maid Marian dance around an English village to the sound of a melodeon, while people cheer them on with ale from local pubs. The Abbots Bromley Horn Dance takes place on the Monday after Wakes Sunday, closest to September 4, in the Staffordshire village of that name. This annual custom might have its origins in ancient pagan rites to ensure a good hunt. No one knows. Records show it was performed at least as far back as the Barthelmy Fair in August 1226. It’s probably older. Carbon-dating showed the current antlers are from the 11th century, but might have replaced older ones. Whatever the truth, it’s a fascinating event.”

The picture at the top shows the players in the Abbots Bromley Horn Dance of 1899, from Sir Benjamin Stone’s Pictures – Festivals, Ceremonies and Customs, published by Cassell and Co. London in 1906.

The celebration takes place during Wakes Week, which was originally a series of religious feast days and late night vigils or “wakes” – from the Old English word “waecan”. In the 19th century it became a time when manufacturing industries shut for a week to give their employees an annual holiday.

If you want to read more about seasonal customs, have a look at my book Pagan Portals – Rounding the Wheel of the Year, viewable on Amazon. It’s published by Moon Books.

(Note: I earn commission from advertisers for some links.)

To read more posts like this visit A Bad Witch’s Blog at www.badwitch.co.uk

Source: http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2026/09/folklore-abbots-bromley-horn-dance.html

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