Straw Boys

 Video link

Straw boys , Derrylin Co. Ireland

From the BBC archives this documentary from the early 70's looks into ancient customs and folk traditions of the UK. I was familiar with most but this one was new to me, The straw wedding is a rural Irish custom dating back to the crusades. 

My interest being in the common use of disguise to bring forth merriment,   Like over sized party hats!

The use of straw was in someway to showcase the craft skills and also about availability, using what  what materials were to hand

I think the strangeness of the masks worn over black clothes along with the loss of identity in the group setting looks really sinister. I took some stills from the film, below, and made a sketch of them carrying the bride. I love the image of them knocking the door with a stick. It's like a horror movie, though the actual event is a celebrations,  part of the custom does involves threat as its considered bad luck not welcome the straw boys to a wedding and reward them with food and drink,. If the straw boys felt they were not treated well they would take off their costumes and throw them in a nearby tree to rot which was considered a bad omen for the marriage , however if they felt they were treated well they wold burn their costumes in a fire and join the guests in a dance around the flames, symbolising the joining of family and community and blessing the marriage.

From a visual point of view I'm really interested in exploring this straw mask character within my project, I'd like to make a version of a straw mask to use for making images and video. Maybe a lone straw masked person walking through different settings? how would that look , what story would that tell? 

side note:, many ritual/ celebrations involve fire, a primitive force that is both life giving and dangerous.

My quick sketch while watching the documentary.
I really like this strange scene, as if she's being kidnapped by a strange group of men ( she's actually being take to a party with the groom  following on behind, also being given carried.
Images taken out of context ,many stories can be imagined. and such strange images and stories they conjure

Straw boys art revival

Straw boys are not exclusive to Ireland , they appear in many guises, across the UK with various purpose and custom. 

Below is a short blurb about a pop up art event featuring this custom re imagined in contemporary dance by Rob Heaslip. There is also a video link below. I really like the dancing and costume against  the rural setting, and that this exhibition toured outside venues only. Its contemporary yet strange and sinister, The deeper I dig I see these customs are not forgotten, they are still there in the fringes and many creatives are finding inspiration. rooted in this strange history, a sub culture, very visual and physical and tactile, it certainly continues to capture my imagination and I'm interested to explore other work by this dance based artist.

Dance Artist Rob Heaslip revives the cultural tradition of ‘The Strawboys’, as he unveils his vibrant new pop-up work, up to forty times, in several unexpected outdoor locations across Shetland, Orkney, Caithness, the Highlands and Aberdeenshire in July and August 2021.

Strawboys is the second work in Rob Heaslip’s trilogy, exploring rituals of death, life and birth amongst the Gaels, the people on the north-western edge of Europe.

Featuring luminous straw dancers whirling to Balkan inspired beats, the work is a unique spin on the cultural tradition of ‘The Strawboys’, also known as Mummers, Guisers, Burdie Boys and Skekklers. The groups were often identified by their ornate straw costumes while out rambling streets, fields, towns and parks, parading their merriment to the joy of onlookers. Having once thrived across Scotland and Ireland, the tradition is now enjoying a revived interest, notably as the Wren Boys of Ireland and the Skekklers of Shetland.

The performance features professional dancers Jack Anderson, Joanne Pirrie, Taylor Han, Tess Letham. Composers Zoe Katsilerou and Eilon Morris infuse lively Balkan vibes to match the colour popping costumes and woven masks of Costume Designer Alison Brown.

Strawboys is supported by Creative Scotland’s Touring Fund. The summer 2021 tour takes place in partnership with Shetland Arts, Lyth Arts Centre, Kristin Linklater, Eden Court, Voice Centre, NEAT and the Barn.

video link here; lyth arts centre pop up dance