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Enjoy this curated selection of theme-related dances for celebrations and holidays, or find a dance associated with a special calendar day, or EVEN your own birthday!
Lady Godiva by John Collier, c. 1897
Jul 14
Lady Godiva's Unclothed Ride
In the Buff
Other Scottish Country Dances for this Day
Today's Musings, History & Folklore
"Then she rode forth, clothed on with chastity:
The deep air listen'd round her as she rode ..."
~ Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Godiva, 1840
How Un-sartorially shocking! Today marks the anniversary of the ultimate minimalist medieval political fashion statement!
Today marks the anniversary of one of history's most famous legends. According to tradition, Lady Godiva, Countess of Mercia, rode on horseback through the streets of Coventry in 1040, clothed only in her long hair, to persuade her husband to lift the crushing taxes imposed on the townspeople. Whether the ride actually happened remains doubtful, but Lady Godiva and her husband were very real historical figures, and by the thirteenth century the tale had become firmly woven into English folklore!
The story also gave us the expression "Peeping Tom." Later versions of the legend tell of a tailor named Thomas who ignored the order that everyone remain indoors with their shutters closed. Unable to resist a peek through his window, he was supposedly struck blind (or, in some versions, died on the spot) for his indiscretion. There's a moral in there somewhere.
Coventry has celebrated the legend for centuries with annual pageants retracing Lady Godiva's route. Today the tradition lives on in the city's lively three-day Godiva Festival, proving that a story more than 900 years old can still draw a crowd.
In contrast, the dance's namesake expression "in the buff" has a surprisingly respectable history. Originally, buff referred to the soft yellowish leather from which English soldiers' coats were made during the 16th and 17th centuries. Because the leather closely resembled natural skin tones, the phrase gradually evolved into its modern meaning—wearing nothing at all.
If your dance group is planning an "In the Buff" theme night, there's no need to alarm the neighbours! Instead, celebrate the original meaning of buff with buff, tan, beige, honey, camel, oatmeal, sandstone, fawn, biscuit, or khaki-colored clothing. Award prizes for "Best Buff Outfit," "Most Creative Buff Ensemble," "Buff and Beautiful," or "Most Convincing Lady Godiva (Horse Optional)." You could even challenge dancers to come dressed as something else beginning with buff: a buffalo, buff-tailed bumblebee, buff Orpington chicken, buff-colored owl, or even a bottle of Buff's Scottish Marmalade. Just remember—binoculars are strictly forbidden, especially if anyone answers to the name Tom! 🕺 💃 💛 💛 💛 🤭 🤭 🤭 🐎 👀 👀 👀
In the Buff
Although Lady Godiva's famous ride is traditionally associated with July 10, 1040, historians generally regard the story as legend rather than documented fact. Godiva (Old English: Godgifu, meaning "gift of God") and her husband, Leofric, Earl of Mercia, were very real historical figures, however, and were renowned for their generosity to monasteries and churches throughout England. Contemporary records make no mention of the ride; the tale first appears nearly two centuries later in the writings of the chronicler Roger of Wendover and has grown with each retelling.
The now-familiar character of "Peeping Tom" was not part of the earliest versions of the legend. He was added centuries later, probably during the 17th century, and his punishment—being struck blind for secretly watching Lady Godiva—turned his name into the enduring English term for a voyeur.
Lady Godiva's legacy extends far beyond folklore. Her image has inspired countless paintings, sculptures, poems, films, and even one of the world's best-known luxury chocolate brands, whose logo features her legendary ride. Coventry has embraced the story as part of its civic identity, celebrating Lady Godiva with festivals, parades, and public artwork for generations.
If you're feeling inspired after dancing IN THE BUFF, you might toast the occasion with a classic Naked Lady cocktail—a vintage mixture of rum, sweet vermouth, brandy, and grenadine. Or, if you'd rather keep your clothes on, simply admire Edmund Blair Leighton's beautiful 1892 painting Lady Godiva, depicting her pleading with Leofric to ease the burdensome taxes before the legendary ride ever took place.
Click the dance cribs or description below to link to a printable version of the dance!
