The Mad Hatter

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

1- 8 1s dance down below 3s, cast up to 2nd place, dance up between 2s and cast to 2nd place own side
9-16 1s advance and retire with 1st corners and dance DoSiDo with 1st corners
17-24 1s repeat with 2nd corners
25-32 2s+1s+3s circle 6H round and back

(MINICRIB. Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors)

Keith Rose's Crib Diagrams

The Mad Hatter - Full Size And Key To Symbols

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Dance Information

Known for his peculiar appearance, the Mad Hatter wears a distinctive hat adorned with a tag that reads "In this style 10/6", adding to the overall absurdity of Wonderland. His eccentric behavior, characterized by unpredictable mood swings and nonsensical conversation, epitomizes the surreal and illogical nature of Carroll's Wonderland.

The character's name, the Mad Hatter, is derived from the hat-making profession, which historically used mercury, leading to symptoms of mercury poisoning, including mental instability. The Mad Hatter is still a well-known and lasting symbol of the magical and playful world that Lewis Carroll created in his imaginative stories.

The renowned Mad Hatter's tea party stands out as one of the most famous tea gatherings in history, celebrated for its whimsy and disregard for conventional rules. In the Victorian era, when such norms were strictly observed, this unconventional approach to dining would have been quite shocking. During that period, rigid rules governed eating and etiquette, with children expected to dine separately and adhere to impeccable manners.

The Mad Hatter's tea party, depicted in Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland", boldly defies these Victorian dining conventions. Alice, in a departure from the norm, sits without an invitation, while the Mad Hatter casually places his elbows on the table and atop the sleeping dormouse - both actions considered impolite during Victorian times.

This particular illustration is from "Nursery Alice", a 1890 shortened version tailored for children under five. Illustrated by Sir John Tenniel, who also created the original artwork, these charmingly coloured images captivated Victorian children, much like they continue to enchant children today.

The Mad Hatters Tea Party, Lewis Carroll, John Tenniel, c. 1890

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