Scottish Customs: From the Cradle to the Grave by Margaret Bennett

Scottish Customs: From the Cradle to the Grave by Margaret Bennett

Author:Margaret Bennett [Bennett, Margaret]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: history, social history, Social Science, Customs & Traditions
ISBN: 9780857905444
Google: iba8BQAAQBAJ
Publisher: Birlinn
Published: 2012-12-10T00:08:38.461531+00:00


Revd Walter Gregor

North-east, 1874

An’ there was a waddin’! Sic vivers an’ drinks,

Sic fiddlin’ an’ pipin’, sic dancin’ an’ jinks;

The haggis e’en hotched te the piper its lane.

Now followed the feast, which was laid out in the barn. All the tables belonging to the household were called into use, and a few might be borrowed. If these were not sufficient, deals were placed on barrels, or masons’ trestles, or boxes. The seats consisted of deals laid on chairs, or the old naves of cartwheels, or, in corners, on two bags of corn or bere laid on their sides, one above the other. The dishes and spoons were very varied, for they had been gathered in for the occasion from friends. The bride got the seat of honour, the head of the table; and the guests arranged themselves according to their fancy. Those, however, who were accounted more honourable, were placed nearest the bride. The bridegroom did not take his seat at table. His charge was to serve and to look after the comfort of all the guests.

The feast was abundant. First came a course of milk-broth, made of barley; barley-broth, made from beef or mutton, or fowls, formed the second course. The third consisted of rounds of beef, legs of mutton, and fowls by the dozen. Last of all came puddings, cooked in every variety of dish, and eaten from saucers, and swimming in cream. Home-brewed ales flowed in abundance from first to last of the feast. When the tables were cleared, big bottles full of whisky were brought in, along with punchbowls, each holding a punch ladle made of wood, and placed before patriarchs renowned for their skill in making punch. With a firm hand each laid hold of a bottle and poured into his bowl for a time. He then looked at the quantity in the bowl, and to make sure of the quantity he held up the bottle before him, and measured with the eye what he had poured in. Then he slowly added the sugar, scanning carefully what he cast in. The water was poured boiling over the whisky and sugar. The mixture was stirred till the sugar was melted. He then took a glass and poured a little of the mixture into it, and tasted it with a knowing smack of the tongue. The glass was handed to another connoisseur of the delicious beverage. It was pronounced good. All the glasses were filled and handed round. The health of the bride and bridegroom was proposed. The glasses were drunk off at once, and the toast received with ‘a’ the honours three’. Round after round was drunk, each to a toast or sentiment, and the glass emptied at each; bowl after bowl was made till the hour for dancing came. The tables, with their contents, were moved away, and the seats were ranged round the wall, so that the whole area of the barn was left clear for dancing.

The dancing was begun by the shaimit reel. This dance was performed by the bride, the bride’s maidens, the bridegroom, and the best young men.



Download



Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.