Morris dance

Japanese: モリス･ダンス（英語表記）morris dance

A British folk dance. The origin of the word Morris is Moorish, and it is said that a pantomime dance called morisca (Spanish) or moresca (Italian, both of which are from the Moorish origin) that was performed in the Mediterranean region was introduced to England in the mid-14th century and became Morris dance. However, there is also a theory that it originated in England. Around the time of the Elizabethan era, it was the most widely performed dance among the common people. Usually, six men form a group, wear white clothes, attach bells to their feet that are said to ward off evil spirits, hold handkerchiefs in their hands, and dance to the accompaniment of flutes and drums.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

イギリスの民俗舞踏。モリスの語源は〈Moorish〉(〈ムーア人の〉の意)で，地中海地方で行われていたモリスカmorisca(スペイン語)，あるいはモレスカmoresca(イタリア語。いずれも語源は〈ムーア人の〉の意)と呼ばれる黙劇風舞曲が14世紀半ばころにイギリスに伝わり，モリス･ダンスとなったといわれる。ただし，イギリス起源説もある。エリザベス朝前後には民衆の間で最も広く行われた踊りであった。通常は男6人が1組となり，白い服を着，悪霊を遠ざける働きをもつといわれる鈴を足につけ，手にハンカチーフなどを持って，笛や太鼓の伴奏で踊る。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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