Ancient fertility dance involving men and reindeer antlers is to be immortalised in very special way

An ancient fertility dance which sees six men carrying reindeer antlers is set to be immortalised.

The Horn Dance is a big part of the East Staffordshire calender after it was recorded as having taken place in 1226, but many historians believe it is even older.

And now the Royal Mail has created a new set of stamps which includes the Abbots Bromley Horn Dance into the spotlight.

The dance takes place every Wakes Monday and sees participants don distinctive coveted outfits, grab their melodions and entertain the crowds with a special dance said to promote fertility.

The Horn Dance tribute is one of eight new stamps celebrating customs involving dancing, singing, dressing up and playing with fire.

To celebrate the launch of the stamps, Abbots Bromley Tory MP Michael Fabricant joined the Horn Dancers from the village.

He said: “The Royal Mail has launched eight colourful and engaging illustrations, depicting and capturing the spirit of well-known, and some not so well-known, annual customs that take place around the UK.

“And one of them is our beloved Abbots Bromley Horn Dance.

“I was pleased to help launch the stamp with horn dancers from Abbots Bromley. 

“It will promote the northern part of the Lichfield Parliamentary constituency as a tourist destination. 

“The antlers shown in the photo have been carbon dated and are at least 1,000 years old.”

Philip Parker, of the Royal Mail, said: “Communities throughout the UK have been coming together for centuries to share distinctive traditions and mark key dates of the year.

“These customs continue to evolve, and our new stamps celebrate their diversity and the communities that maintain them.

“The Horn Dance is unique in Europe. Six men carrying huge reindeer antlers plus characters dressed as Maid Marian, Fool, Hobby Horse and Bowman, celebrate ancient hunting rites.

“They perambulate the Staffordshire parish and at set places perform a dance.

“The design of the costumes and the dance have been preserved for hundreds of years, with the earliest reference to the horns dating from the 1630s but have been carbon dated to around 1000 AD.”

The customs depicted on the stamps are:

Horn Dance, Abbots Bromley

Burning the Clocks, Brighton

‘Obby ‘Oss, Padstow

World Gurning Championship, Egremont

Up Helly Aa, Lerwick

Cheese Rolling, Cooper’s Hill, Brockworth

Halloween, Derry/Londonderry

Bog Snorkelling, Llanwrtyd Wells