‘When the hallow days o Yule were come A gift demands a gift. However, the Reformation transformed attitudes to traditional Christian feasting days, including Christmas, and led in practice to the abolition of festival day… One still-popular custom is first-footing, which traditionally saw the first visitor to set foot in the household bring a gift such as coal, shortbread, salt, black bun or whisky. People who describe themselves as new-age or spiritual seekers have rediscovered the rituals of the ancients and have attempted to celebrate in a way that connects them to the past. Traditional medicine of the highlands and islands. We take a look at the almost completely lost highland tradition of the Clach an Groait stone, the world famous Orkney Ba tournament, and an old lady and her festive pig. Ash keys, once pickled, are a bit like capers. Why Scotland should once again celebrate the traditional end of Christmas (in February) – Stephen Jardine scotsman.com - Stephen Jardine. You need a small handful for one cup. Christmas Day being celebrated in Scotland on the 25th December. A life demands a life. Today's games are at the same time, both similar and dis similar, from the original Clan contests which are at the roots of these games. If you’d like to help keep #FolkloreThursday going, do check out our Patreon page to pledge a small monthly amount to tell us you think #FolkloreThursday is great! That sweet luck Because green wood was used, it would have made quite a loud noise when it did snap. Thanks to modern technology it is possible to experience a small part of what the original solstice celebrants must have envisioned. Scottish traditions have their roots deep-set in history, and the Highland Games have been around for over a thousand years, perhaps even longer. A gift demands a gift. The winners were the team who could drag the Yule log to their side of the town. Yule Figgy Pudding. It was believed it would conquer the darkness, banish evil spirits and bring luck for the coming year. Before the faggot has ending, Log burn The gathering of the Yule log was announced with much drama and mirth. Cut of the twigs into smaller pieces and place them in the now boiling water. One of the modern traditions in Scotland is charity runs. One of the Scottish Christmas traditions that was banned for so many years included the baking of Yule bread. This bizarre celebration takes place on the first day of the New Year. Because of the somewhat complicated history of Christmas in Scotland – with the Kirk’s banning of any celebration of it in the sixteenth century – the customs that can be found at this time of year are often to be found at both Yule and Hogmanay or New Year’s Day, since many of the Yule traditions were simply transferred from one to the other to avoid punishment. Maeshowe is a Neolithic chambered cairn and passage grave on Orkney. Ash has so much folklore surrounding it; it’s hard just to focus on a few elements. If you didn't keep your fire burning continually, unwanted spirits would supposedly come down the fireplace and into your home, bringing bad luck. In Scotland, Hogmanay is even more important than Christmas. Keeping Christmas cake or the remains of the Yule Log under the bed was also thought to help get rid of chilblains. Christmas spirit, a potent blend of being kind and nice to others, is what we require the most now. In Somerset, there is a legend where ‘the one with the white hand’ (a birch it is believed) was a spirit haunting Taunton Moorland. Some traditions kept the ash from the Yule log in the cellar, protecting from witches and bringing good luck. It was also to symbolise the idea that life could continue in the darkness, since around Christmas is the longest nights of the year. Christmas swim. You can see this idea echoed in the poem by Robert Herrick (1591 – 1674): ‘With last year’s brand The male ash tree (heder) would protect against female witches. The Yule log – called the Cailleach Nollich, the Christmas Old Lady or Oldwife in Scotland – derives from a female figure chalked onto the log. In this episode, Annie and Jenny take a festive Yuletide jaunt around Christmas time traditions in Scotland. Ash is in the same family as the oilive tree (oleaceae). One Scottish tradition is to keep their Christmas fires going all night long on Christmas Eve. Brightly coloured decorations would be hung on a pine tree to symbolise the various stellar objects, which were of tremendous significance to the Celtic people – the sun, moon, and stars – and also to represent the souls of those who had died in the previous year. There is no doubt the tree was held sacred by the people of the UK and beyond. And Jenny to her wheel.” Cover with a lid and decoct, simmering for around 20 mins. Recipes for such foods as the Ye’el Bannock or Yule Bannock, ‘sour cakes’ or ‘soor poos’ are still around today. During the ban, bakers were required to give the authorities the name of anyone requesting this holiday staple. Teutonic mythology argues the first people came from the Ash tree with links to Yggdrasil, the world tree, spine of the worlds. A wand ‘o bonny birk’ is laid on the breast of the dead in Sweet William’s Ghost. Regardless of the type of tree burnt, folks would ensure they kept a piece of the burnt Yule log throughout the year that followed. Sprinkle it with a libation of ale before setting light to it in your fireplace or outside. At the mid-winter solstice they would light bonfires, tell stories and drink ale, in addition to making sacrifices to the gods to earn blessing on the forthcoming crops. After 20 mins you will have a nice brown brew with maybe a little oil floating on the surface. Divination was once a popular custom. Swimming the Loony Dook - quite possibly the looniest Scottish New Year tradition. Christmas has been marked in Ireland since St. Patrick brought Christianity to the island in the fifth century. As soon as the Yule log stopped burning it was back to the bad cider. The huge Yule log was carried into the middle of town and ropes and chains attached. In Scotland, you'll see Christmas trees lighting up people's houses and wreaths on the front door. There are traditional Christmas trees (most likely Scots pines), adorned with all kinds of shiny and twinkling stuff. This precise alignment allows the light at the darkest point of the year to illuminate this spectacular house of the dead. The outline of the chalked woman would burn away as the fire grew – charring the old wife. A conventional Christmas lunch includes Scotch broth, smoked salmon, roast turkey, roast potatoes, carrots, brussel sprouts, Christmas pudding and brandy custard. With the advent of Christianity, the Yule log tradition continued, albeit on a smaller scale. It was traditional to offer gifts of imitation fruit (a symbol of fertility), dolls (symbolic of the custom of human sacrifice), and candles (reminiscent of the bonfires traditionally associated with pagan solstice celebrations). Christmas Traditions - a Scottish Christmas is very similar to Christmas throughout the world. by Eric Grundhauser January 4, 2018. Yule time traditions date far back to the Druids and Pagans. As celebrations of saturnalia died away this evolved to become the pre-eminent winter festival, the date was eventually co-opted by Christians as the faith spread. People put presents under the tree and leave mince pies for Father Christmas on Christmas Eve. Christmas Special: Highland Yule Traditions. Later, a last piece of Yule log would be saved to light next year's fire. light the new block, See more ideas about yule, yule traditions, yuletide. Get a Yule kebbuck – a special cheese flavoured with caraway seed. The majority of wine and beer made during the year was finally fermented and ready for drinking. Let your heart be made clean Rising up out of the scrub of birch and oak, it drifted up to lonely travellers so fast they could not escape. Polygon. One of the Scottish Christmas traditions that was banned for so many years included the baking of Yule bread. Wreaths of ash were wrapped around cow horns, and English mothers rigged little hammocks for their newborns in ash trees, believing the tree would protect them from witches and wild animals whilst they worked. A loaf of unleavened bread is baked for each individual in the family, and the person who finds a trinket in his or her loaf will have good luck all year. The Yule log was burned in the fireplace, there was kissing under the mistletoe (related to a Druidic fertility rite) and the house was decorated with … In Irish (Gaelic) Nollaig Shona Duit means 'Happy Christmas to you.' waurmin’ hearth an’ hame by burnin’ sae bricht. It has a nice sweet winter green like taste. Up to a thousand people in fancy dress throw themselves into the icy water of the Firth of Forth at South Queensferry, just a few miles out of the Scottish capital. First Footing After the stroke of midnight, neighbors visit each other, bearing traditional symbolic … The tree had to be gathered secretly from someone’s garden without them noticing or knowing. Come while the log is tending. Nowadays, we tend to think of Yule as a single day. Once he saw that the days were getting longer again he realised that this was the natural cycle of the world, so celebrated. Sun return’. There are many perks to being a member of the Royal Family. Wars were interrupted or postponed and slaves were served by their masters. For example, some folk like to bake unleavened Yule bread for each person in their family. Druids, the priestly class in ancient Celtic society, celebrated the festival of Alban Arthuan (also known as Yule) at the time of the Winter solstice. Celtic and Druidic Priests In Scotland, before the arrival of Christianity, on the solstice, Celtic priests would cut the mistletoe that grew on the oak tree and give it as a blessing. It’s that time of year! From tourist attractions, days out, shopping and a great place to stay, you’ll find it all here. Grudges and quarrels were forgotten while businesses, courts and schools were closed. Cultural Relations Committee Ireland. So those with ill will that needs mending Traditions at this time of year maintain strong links with Viking and Gaelic celebrations of Yule time, or ‘Daft Days’ as they are known in Scotland. 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