Customs and Traditions, Myths and Legends

[Pamela K. Thompson]

W-0-0-0-W. Ladies, Jamsie? O.O YES.

[Mary]

OMG...........ANOTHER one falls for Jamsie! I guess I'm going to have to take another look! 

[Pamela K. Thompson]

I just read The Curse. That was one mean hearted Christian wonder where he went when he died?

[Beverly Kohn(Thompson)]

Part 2: Bevs' Celtic Journey:
The Celtic Wheel of the Year:
    The Celtic calendar was Lunar based,with 13 months. Extra days were added as needed at New Years as a "time between times". The wheel of the year was divided into 8 segments each with a corresponding festival. the 4 Fire festivals take place on the last evening of the month and the following day because the Celts,like the Jews, count a day from sunset to sunset. That's why we celebrate All Hallows Eve, Midsummers Eve,and so on. These 4 fire festivals are tied to the agricultural cycle.
     1st- Samhain- Oct. 31st-Nov.1st- It is the end of harvest,the beginning of winter and once marked the Celtic New Year. Normal rules of human behavior do not apply, and one can "Run Wild". I've already gone into Samhian previously.
     2nd-Imbolc- celebrated Feb.1-2 (later transformed into Candlemas by the church),and now popular as GroundHog Day. It marked the beginning of spring,the beginning of new life(the beginning of lambing season). Dedicated to the ancient mother goddess in her maiden aspect, it was later transformed into a feast day for the Irish saint of the same name, and attributes, St. Bigid.
     3rd- Beltane- In Scots gaelic-May Day- April30-May 1st. The Myth surrounding this festival is common to many ancient pagan religions. The god Bel (or Cernunnos, the horned god of Ireland), dies but is reborn as the Goddess' son. He then impregnates her ensuring the neverending cycle of rebirth. This is very basic fertility worship. May Day traditions include young people picking flowers in the woods (spending the night there) and dancing around the May Pole,weaving red(for the God) and white(for the Godess) streamers round and round. On May Day itself the Highland tradition has the entire community leading the cattle to summer pasturage, not to return until Samhain.
     4th- Lughnasadh- (Lammas in England)- the feast of the God Lugh and the first fruits of the harvest (generally wheat and corn). July31st- Aug 1st, In Scotland the first stalks of corn are called "John Barleycorn", of course and was used to make the first beer of the season. Now, John Barleycorn refers to that greatest of Scots drinks, (many distilleries are closed for August, reopening for the fall whisky-making season on Sept.1st.).At Lammas. the Corn King dies, to be reborn at spring, ensuring plenty for winter.

  Until next time- yours in family and spirit!  Bev

[Pamela K. Thompson]

  Thank you so much Barb. I have a recipe for Meade and is to be started at Winter Solstice, ready for Beltane, I never knew what it actually was until now. It makes sense. I gave away most of what I made, and made it late summer, served it at Christmas. Wine my foot. That stuff knocked our socks off and the more you sipped the smoother it got! I aged one bottle until mid-summer and then we opened it and sipped, it was soooo smoooth. Very dangerous stuff. Haven't made it since. Basically it is honey, hazelnuts, and water and of course your accelorator. Are Hazelnuts native to the islands? I'm going to google it!  Keep going!   Karma

[Michael Thompson]

July31st- Aug 1st, In Scotland the first stalks of corn are called "John Barleycorn", of course and was used to make the first beer of the season. Now, John Barleycorn refers to that greatest of Scots drinks, (many distilleries are closed for August, reopening for the fall whisky-making season on Sept.1st.).

Wonderful summary Bev. It reminded me of a Robert Burns poem that has been done in many different forms as songs. Maybe this should be in the poetry thread, but it seems to work here.

I.

    There were three kings into the east,
      Three kings both great and high;
    And they hae sworn a solemn oath
      John Barleycorn should die.

II.

    They took a plough and plough'd him down,
      Put clods upon his head;
    And they ha'e sworn a solemn oath
      John Barleycorn was dead.

III.

    But the cheerful spring came kindly on,
      And show'rs began to fall;
    John Barleycorn got up again,
      And sore surpris'd them all.

IV.

    The sultry suns of summer came,
      And he grew thick and strong;
    His head weel arm'd wi' pointed spears
      That no one should him wrong.

V.

    The sober autumn enter'd mild,
      When he grew wan and pale;
    His beading joints and drooping head
      Show'd he began to fail.

VI.

    His colour sicken'd more and more,
      He faded into age;
    And then his enemies began
      To show their deadly rage.

VII.

    They've ta'en a weapon, long and sharp,
      And cut him by the knee;
    Then ty'd him fast upon a cart,
      Like a rogue for forgerie.

VIII.

    They laid him down upon his back,
      And cudgell'd him full sore;
    They hung him up before the storm.
      And turn'd him o'er and o'er.

IX.

    They filled up a darksome pit
      With water to the brim;
    They heaved in John Barleycorn,
      There let him sink or swim.

X.

    They laid him out upon the floor,
      To work him farther woe;
    And still, as signs of life appear'd,
      They toss'd him to and fro.

XI.

    They wasted o'er a scorching flame
      The marrow of his bones;
    But a miller us'd him worst of all--
      He crush'd him 'tween the stones.

XII.

    And they ha'e ta'en his very heart's blood,
      And drank it round and round;
    And still the more and more they drank,
      Their joy did more abound.

XIII.

    John Barleycorn was a hero bold,
      Of noble enterprise;
    For if you do but taste his blood,
      'Twill make your courage rise.

XIV.

    'Twill make a man forget his woe;
      'Twill heighten all his joy:
    'Twill make the widow's heart to sing,
      Tho' the tear were in her eye.

XV.

    Then let us toast John Barleycorn,
      Each man a glass in hand;
    And may his great posterity
      Ne'er fail in old Scotland!

To John Barleycorn!

[Beverly Kohn(Thompson)]

  Thank you Karma and Michael! There's nothing better than a good drink , a nice fire and Rabbie Burns!!!  Bev

[Pamela K. Thompson]

Amen. Karma

[Beverly Kohn(Thompson)]

Part III : Celtic Journey.
   The other 4 holidays of the Celtic year celebrate the spring and fall equinoxes and the winter and summer solstices. Each name contains the word "Alban", meaning "light of ". The name for ancient Scotland was Alba.
 1st- Alban Arthurian-(light of Arthur). Like winter solstice celebrations all over the world, celebrates the return of the sun following the shortest day of the year. From ancient Celtic and Norse mythology we enjoy such holiday traditions as holly & mistletoe(sacred to the Druids), the yule log, Santa Claus in his aspects as Father Christmas or the Holly King.
    Supposedly, King Arthur was born on the winter sostice(he too will come again). Ireland celebrates Christmas much more enthusiastically than Scotland. Under the Kirk at it's strictest, Christmas was viewed as an idolatrous celebration and not observed. Today, the Scots put most of their merry making efforts into Hogmanay, the New Years celebration.
  2nd - Alban Eiler (light of the Earth)- is the spring Equinox. The equinoxes were considered a time of balance, not only dark and light, but between worlds as well and, therefore a time of high magical potential. This festival signified the time for spring planting and fertility rituals.
   3rd- Alban Heruin-(light of the shore). It is celebrated as Midsummer's Day with games, picnics, and all manner of fun. The antics of "A Midsummer's Night Dream" by Shakespeare well captures the spirit of this festival, including, the interaction between our people and of the faery world.
    4th- Alban Elved-(light of water). It is observed at the Autumn equinox. It is a very sacred time when the line between world's is thin and magical possibilities abound. We find in Celtic mythology, a strong foundation in ancient goddess (mother earth), merged with the peculiar emphasis on the otherworld and it's accessibility to mankind found in the Druid religion. More than any people, perhaps, the Celts live with one foot in this world and one in the other.The Driud belief was that we are composed of mind, body, and spirit,(christianity likewise believes  this), with spirit acting as bonding agent between body and mind. Thereby we are able to travel between worlds, if we know how, or if we were born with the gift. Combined with the Druidic belief in reincarnation, there is little fear of the otherworld and the faery world is simply an alternate reality rather than a higher plane.
   Will be back soon with more exciting tales.
           Bev
   
 

[Stirling Thompson]

Fee'ing Fairs

Through the "improvement" years of the early and mid 1700s in Scotland, farming developed into a labour intensive industry providing work for thousands of North East folk. Landowners leased their land in lots to farmers for agreed terms who in turn employed labourers for the seasonal work.

The workers were signed for six month working terms at the fee'ing fairs which took place in the market towns at Whitsun and Martinmas in late November. At the bigger farms, the "fairm-toons", the farmers employed a grieve as a general manager. Next in line was the ploughman, the most respected and best paid of the workers.

Then came the orra-man or cattleman and after him the general labourers and the orra-loon, a young jack of all trades. The unmarried men, the "bothy loons", lived in the farm bothy, a small, very basic building usually built on to the side of the cattle byre. Women too were appointed for set terms, usually to work in the kitchens, cooking for the farmer's family and the "bothy loons." These "kitchie deems" (kitchen dames or girls) were kept hard at work under the watchful eye of the farmer's wife.

[Pamela K. Thompson]

Stu and Bev, I really enjoy all of the information you are sharing! I feel more connected the more I know and some of it just intrigues me to learn more. Karma

[Stirling Thompson]

      Scottish Naming Customs

    "The general custom, to which there were some variations, was to name children as follows:-

    The eldest son after the paternal grandfather
    The second son after the maternal grandfather
    The third son after the father
    The eldest daughter after the maternal grandmother
    The second daughter after the paternal grandmother
    The third daughter after the mother

    Younger children would be named after earlier forebears, but the pattern in their case was less settled."

    ("In search of Scottish Ancestry" by Gerald Hamilton-Edwards, Phillimore, 1983 Edition).

[Stirling Thompson]

A little something for us "cat people"...

The Scottish Fold

Breed Description: The Scottish Fold is an unusual looking breed. They are medium-sized muscular cat with a fairly heavy bone structure and famous for having ears that fold forward and downward. The tips of their ears are rounded and they are set on their head in cap-like fashion. They have a round head with large, expressive eyes, a long tapering tail, and a dense, double coat that is very soft and resilient.

History & Origin: This breed started in 1961 when a white cat with folded ears was born in Perthshire, Scotland. The male kitten, Snowball, was bred with suitable domestic shorthairs and soon became an established new breed named the Scottish Fold.

Character & Temperament: This breed has a sweet nature. They are generally laid back and respectful of people and property. Scottish Folds get along well with other cats and dogs if introduced properly. They are slow to anger and more likely to remove themselves from a situation than become aggressive. This makes them excellent companions for children. They have quiet voices and are seldom vocal. They enjoy the company of people, but also do fine when left on their own during the day.

Color: The Scottish Fold can be any color or pattern that is considered "natural" for a domestic cat. The most common colors include blue, white, red, black and cream, sometimes with white and tabby markings.

Coat Type: This breed has a dense and soft double coat that stands out from the body instead of lying flat.

Grooming: The Scottish Fold's coat can be kept in top condition with minimal grooming. When the cat is shedding, a rubber mitt or brush will help loosen and remove dead hair. Claws should be trimmed and ears cleaned only when necessary.

Health Considerations: This breed is not normally crossed with each other due to the possibility of genetic defects resulting in skeletal abnormalities. White cats are prone to deafness.

Trivia: Scottish Folds usually average 5 kittens per litter, with only 2 of the kittens developing the trademark folded ears.

[Stirling Thompson]

Three shillings and ten pence

In the early days of the nineteenth century, an Edinburgh priest who had moved to Perth, called Father McKay, was approached by a woman who had been troubled for sometime by a conscience-stricken ghost. The problem was solved without the need for exorcism or dramatic intervention of any kind. Anne Simpson, the woman who sought after Father McKay's assistance, was not of the Catholic faith, but she had good reason for asking the help of a Catholic priest. It turned out that the ghost that had been appearing to her night after night was that of a woman whom she had know as a familiar figure around the army barracks nearby. The woman's name was Molloy, and she had worked in the barracks laundry. Mrs. Molloy's ghost, when it appeared to Anne Simpson, was most persistent. Mrs. Molloy owed money - three shillings and ten pence. She wanted Anne Simpson to tell a priest and ask him to set matters right. So here was Anne Simpson, tired of constantly interrupted sleep, doing the bidding of a ghost! Lesser men might have sent the poor woman away and told her to stop talking such nonsense, but Father McKay listened to her story patiently and assured her he would see what he could do. He made enquiries at the barracks first of all. Sure enough, there had been a woman called Molloy working there, but she had died some time before. Had she owed any money to anybody in the barracks, the priest wanted to know. No, she had not owed any money there. The priest had to take his search a little farther a field. Visiting local traders, he found himself in the grocer's shop. When he asked about Mrs. Molloy, he discovered that when she had died she was in debt to the grocer. And the amount of the debt? Three shillings and ten pence exactly. The kindly priest settled the outstanding amount and left the shop. When he saw Anne Simpson some days later, he asked whether Mrs. Molloy's ghost had appeared to her recently. He was quite relieved to hear that the ghost seemed to have gone. Obviously the spirit of Mrs. Molloy felt at peace now that she had got all her affairs in order!

[Beverly Kohn(Thompson)]

   What a wonderful story Stirling! I love to hear about spirits who have been helped and can move on to the other side instead of remaining in limbo. I just love all your stories!
    Bev