Minnesota in Photos

An exploration of our state in images.

May 1, 2012

Minnesota in Photos: Morris Dancers welcome spring

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Every year on May Day at a park in Minneapolis, Morris Dancers strap bells to their shins, sing, shout and clack sticks to mark the change of the seasons. It's a 500 year-old folk tradition from England that has sunk deep roots here in Minnesota.

May queen

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Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA — Improptu May queen Rebecca Justiniano of Roseville, Minn., holds flowers as the Morris dancers prepare to begin their celebration of the first day of May at Mississippi Park in Minneapolis, Minn. Tuesday, May 1, 2012. The Morris dancers, which perform traditional English-style folk dance, have been gathering at Mississippi Park for more than 25 years. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson/Link to story) link to this photo

Green Man

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Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA — Bill Way of Eagan, dressed as "Green Man," sings with other Morris dancers during the celebration of the first day of May at Mississippi Park in Minneapolis, Minn. Tuesday, May 1, 2012. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson/Link to story) link to this photo

Dancing together

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Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA — Morris dancers wave hankies and shakes bells during a sunrise dance to celebrate the first day of May in Minneapolis, Minn. Tuesday, May 1, 2012. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson/Link to story) link to this photo

Joking around

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Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA — Kethry Burke-Scovill, 17, left, and Bob Walser joke around during the Morris dancers celebration of the first day of May in Minneapolis, Minn. Tuesday, May 1, 2012. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson/Link to story) link to this photo

Ring of flowers

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Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA — A ring of flowers is wrapped around a tree for the Morris dancers annual celebration of the first day of May in Minneapolis, Minn. Tuesday, May 1, 2012. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson/Link to story) link to this photo

Watching the dancing

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Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA — Kennan Fields, 4, of Eagan, Minn. and Anna Shewmaker, 17, of St. Paul, Minn. watch the dancing during the celebration of the first day of May in Minneapolis, Minn. Tuesday, May 1, 2012. Shewmaker performs with the Bells of the North, one of several Twin Cities Morris dance groups participating in Tuesday's celebration. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson/Link to story) link to this photo

Group dance

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Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA — Greta Rudolph of Minneapolis, Minn. dances with other Morris dancers during a celebration of the first day of May in Minneapolis, Minn. Tuesday, May 1, 2012. Rudolph is a member of the Upton on Calhoun dance group. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson/Link to story) link to this photo

Playing instruments

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Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA — Wind and percussion instruments were played during the May Day celebration in Minneapolis, Minn. Tuesday, May 1, 2012. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson/Link to story) link to this photo

Jumping the fire

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Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA — As part of May Day ritual, Bill Way of Eagan jumps over the fire during a celebration in Minneapolis, Minn. Tuesday, May 1, 2012. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson/Link to story) link to this photo

Bells of the North

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Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA — The Bells of the North Morris dance group performs during a celebration of the first day of May in Minneapolis, Minn. Tuesday, May 1, 2012. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson/Link to story) link to this photo

Sharing a laugh

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Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA — Morris dancers Jim Leedham of Mazeppa, Minn., right, and Rick Nagler of Prairie Farm, Wisc. share a laugh during a May Day celebration in Minneapolis, Minn. Tuesday, May 1, 2012. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson/Link to story) link to this photo

Singing together

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Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA — Hassan Saffouri and his wife Chris Kunz of St. Paul, Minn. sing with others during a May Day celebration in Minneapolis, Minn. Tuesday, May 1, 2012. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson/Link to story) link to this photo

After the celebration

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Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA — Morris dancers walk through Mississippi Park after their May Day gathering in Minneapolis, Minn. Tuesday, May 1, 2012. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson/Link to story) link to this photo

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