Use this page to find out a bit more about Jackstraws Morris and what we do.

1. Traditions of the Side
2. Our Kit
3. Daisy - our animal

Traditions

Jackstraws perform dances from the Cotswold traditions and some that have been made up by members of the side.

This season (2007-2008) we will be concentrating on  Fieldtown, Ducklington and Bloxham

The side also has it's own "Traditions" -  things that we always do during the season, or during each practice. Such as.....

• We have an Annual General Meeting every year - on  the first Monday of each practise season.
• We have an Annual Meal every year - sometime in  November or December.
• We go Carol Singing, around Christmas time, collecting for a local charity.
• We dance out at a local pub on Boxing Day  lunchtime, during which a "Mummer's Play" is usually performed.
• We have a "Christmas Party" every January.
• Some members of the side participate in a  Narrowboat holiday sometime around Easter.
• We don't practise on Bank Holidays that fall on a Monday.
• We usually dance out at dawn on May Morning (1st May)

Daisy

On occasions Daisy, a cow, appears with  Jackstraws. She has a shy and retiring personality which keeps her on the side-lines, entertaining the children in the audience.

Daisy was specially made in 1987, Jackstraws' 10th Anniversary year. She is a papier mache carnival head with a brown spotted cloth for a  body.

Kit (up to 2004)

A white, hand made, smock with green smocking  based on a traditional Surrey smock design.  Jackstraws was one of the first revival womens' teams to wear trousers (in 1977!). The kit is  completed with a green neckerchief, white shoes,  bell pads with green and white ribbons and a white hat decorated with flowers

We're planning to change our kit in 2005 - but you'll have to come out and watch us to see when it actually happens.... (have a look here for some ideas)

Kit (from 2005)

The new kit retains the same colours as the old kit (i.e. green and white), but the smock has been replaced with a white shirt, with ribbons attached at the shoulders. Also, the flowered hat has been abandoned.