Scottish Sorcery - Clans on Broaway

Scottish Sorcery

 

When you think “witch”, what comes to mind? A wart faced old woman in a black dress with a broom? Actually, all it took was a birthmark or freckle, or singing and dancing outside, or simply someone’s accusation that could have you executed as a witch.

 

Although there have been stories of witchcraft since the beginning of time, persecutions didn’t begin until the 1500s. The Witchcraft Act of 1563 made it illegal for anyone to be or consort with a witch. The first major persecution, The North Berwick Trials, began in 1590 with King James I and VI. Returning from Denmark with his new bride, a powerful tempest almost killed them. The King believed witchcraft was the cause of the storm and had nearly 100 people arrested. Many were tortured and burnt alive.

 

The Forfar Witch Hunt of 1661 and the Auldearn Trials of 1662 were prolonged by accusations made by “witches” in order to save themselves. At the Aberdeen Trials, 7 women were accused of using magic to murder others and using body parts from the victims to create potions. The Pittenween Trials of 1704 were based on the world of a 16 year old boy. Each of the accused was tortured. One was even crushed to death under large stones. It was later discovered that they boy had made it all up.

 

The Renfrewshire Trials of 1695 began with 11 year old Christian Shaw caught a housemaid drinking forbidden milk and threatened to tell her mother. The housemaid told the girl that the devil would take her to hell. Christian began having fits and visions, claiming that they maid was torturing her. She vomited up feathers, hay, wax, stones, even a hot coal. There were accounts of her floating around the room and moving things without touching them. She also accused several others of witchcraft. Over 20 men, women and children were imprisoned and examined by “witch prickers”. Several children and one minister were found dead on the morning of the trials. Fourteen of the charged were found not guilty. The remainder were hanged and burned. Christian was cured after the executions.

 

The Witchcraft Act was abandoned in 1736. It is estimated that over 4000 people were executed as witches in Scotland alone. Only 4 “witches” are recorded as being executed in Ireland, and only 3 in Wales. So for those of you with freckles or birthmarks (like myself), be thankful that things have changed!!

Happy All Hallows Eve!

 

Sincerely,

Rauncie Kinnaird

Clans Celts & Clover

Email: r.k@sasktel.net Phone: 306-382-4443 Website: http://www.clansceltsandclover.com  and http://www.kinnairdbagpipes.com

Clans on Broadway - St Andrew

St. Andrew

To The End of the Earth

St. Andrew, one of the apostles, was a humble fishermen in Galilee. Andrew was sentenced to death for following Christ and preaching the gospel. Feeling unworthy to die as Christ had on a T-shaped cross, he asked to be crucified on an X-shaped cross called a saltire, now featured on the Scottish flag. Andrew was buried in Greece until the Emperor removed his bones and took them to Constantinople. A monk, Rule (or Regulus), had a vision that told him to take as many of the remains as he could to the end of the earth, which at the time was believed to be close to Scotland. Rule was shipwrecked at Kilrymont, now St. Andrews. A special chapel was made from the relics of St. Andrew to be placed in. It was erected in St. Andrews. The small chapel was later replaced by the Cathedral of St. Andrew in 1160. St. Andrews became a place of pilgrimages, many came to visit the relics of St. Andrew, and the city became the religious capital of Scotland. The cathedral is now in ruins and the relics of St. Andrew are gone. The remains of St. Andrew are commemorated by a plaque, located in the ruins where visitors walk. A piece of his shoulder blade was sent to the Roman Catholic community of Scotland in 1879. In 1969, Pope Paul VI returned some of the relics to Scotland. They are now on display in St. Mary's Roman Catholic Cathedral in Edinburgh.

St. Andrews Trivia

·         St. Andrews day is connected with Advent, which begins on the nearest Sunday to November 30^th

·         St. Andrews day marks the opening of Christmas markets

·         Around midnight on November 29^th, it was traditional for girls to pray to St. Andrew for a husband. They would make a wish and look for a sign that they had been heard. A couple of examples are:

·         She could throw a shoe at the door. If the show pointed in the direction of the exit, then she would marry and leave her parents house within a year

·         Or she could peel a whole apple without breaking the peel over the shoulder. If the peel formed a letter, this suggested the name of her future groom

Sincerely,

Rauncie Kinnaird

Clans Celts & Clover

Email: mailto:clans@sasktel.net Phone: 306-382-4443 Website: http://www.clansceltsandclover.com  and http://www.kinnairdbagpipes.com

 

Clans on Broadway - St. Michaels Day

Michaelmas Day- Sept. 29th

Michaelmas Day is the Day of St. Michael and All the Angels. Michael is one of the main angelic warriors, protector of the night, and the giver of cosmic intelligence. He is the patron saint of the sea, ships, and horses.

Old Michaelmas Day falls on October 10^th and legend has it that blackberries are no longer good to be picked after this date. That is because on this day, Satan was expelled from heaven and when he fell, it was onto a blackberry bramble and he then proceeded to curse the bramble.

Michaelmas Day falls near the equinox and is associated with the beginning of autumn and the shortening of days. It is traditionally the last day of harvest. It used to be the celebration of the Winter Night Curfew, which began with the tolls of a church bell. The bell was rung every night except for Sundays until Shrove Tuesday, the last day before Lent.

It is observed as a feast by the Church of England with a traditional meal of a stubble goose and St. Michael's Bannock cake. The reason for the goose is said to be because Queen Elizabeth was dining on a goose when she received news of the defeat of the Armada. She swore to always eat goose on Michaelmas Day and others followed.

The eve of Michaelmas day was also important. It was when the bringing in of the carrots, baking the struan (a cereal cake), killing the lamb, and the thieving of horses occurred.

Michaelmas was celebrated as a day of obligation until the 18th century. It was an English, Welsh & Irish quarter day when rents were due. Sometimes tenants would take a goose to their landlords in hopes of delay. It was also a day when new councils were elected including a representative of the king from the peasants.

Happy Michaelmas Day!!

Sincerely,

Rauncie Kinnaird

Clans Celts & Clover

Email: r.k@sasktel.net Phone: 306-382-4443 Website: http://www.clansceltsandclover.com  and http://www.kinnairdbagpipes.com

 

Clans on Broadway - Gretna Green

Gretna Green

In 1754, England past a law preventing marriage under the age of 21 without parental consent. In Scotland, the legal age for marriage was 16. Prior to 1929, it was even younger than that! And so, young lovers eloped traveling under the cover of darkness to Gretna Green. Gretna Green is ½ mile over the border north of Carlisle, England. It was a stagecoach changing post on the London to Glasgow route, and the first village in Scotland. The first building was the blacksmith's shop. The civil contract of marriage was lead by the "blacksmith priest" over the anvil, believed to offer good fortune. These blacksmiths became known as “anvil priests” and were able to marry couples as the law said that as long as there was two witnesses, anyone could hold the power to wed a couple. Runaway couples traveled for days by coach often with fathers in hot pursuit.

One of the most famous weddings that took places at Gretna Green was the marriage of the heiress Ellen Turner to, the much older, Edward Gibbon Wakefield. Ellen was the daughter of a rich mill owner who lived in England. She was to inherit her fathers estate. When Ellen was 15 in 1927, she was tricked into believing that her fathers business was in trouble. She was told that if she would marry Edward Wakefield, her father would be saved. They proceeded to Gretna Green in Scotland where they were wed. Wakefield was found out and arrested in Dover less than a month after he had abducted Ellen.

The tradition continues today with 4000 weddings a year occurring in Gretna Green. Couples now travel from around the world to be married in the 2007 Scottish Wedding Hotel of the Year.

Places like Las Vegas and Reno have been nicknamed “Gretna Greens” because of the high amount of quick marriages that take place.

Clans Celts and Clover has a bridal section that goes beyond the dazzling gold wedding bands. Flasks for men and silver jewellery for women are very good attendant gifts. Pewter Goblets are very popular as their design is unique and their heavy weight adds a feeling of enchantment. Many couples seek out their tartan or clan crests for traditional touches to their special day.

Sincerely,

Rauncie Kinnaird

Clans Celts & Clover

Email: clans@sasktel.ca Phone: 306-382-4443 Website: http://www.clansceltsandclover.com

 

Clans on Broadway - Macbeth's Rehabilitation

MacBeth's Rehabilitation

Macbeth was an 11th Century Scottish King. His reign was a lengthy 17 years but his achievements have been clouded by the pen of Shakespeare. The play's portrayal of Macbeth as a murderer and tyrant lead to his long association with back luck.

Macbeth was born Mac Bethad mac Findlaich, meaning Son of Life, in Dingwall in 1005. Macbeth became king in 1040 when King Duncan I died in battle. While Shakespeare suggests Macbeth kills King Duncan there is no historical indication of this. These were violent times. Macbeth's cousin and about 50 followers were burned to death in their stronghold prior to his rule. However, history portrays Macbeth's rule as a more just rule than the later Dark Ages in Scotland.

 

Macbeth belonged to the House of Dunkeld rulers, whom ruled Scotland from 1034 to 1286. He was crowned at Scone (pronounced skoon) Palace, where many other early kings had also been crowned. As a Scottish monarch, his nickname became “the Red King”, for his ruddy face.

Macbeth imposed law and order. He encouraged the development of Christianity. Macbeth made a 6 month pilgrimage to Rome in 1050. It is speculated that there had to be considerable political stability for such an extended absence without a challenge to the throne. During his rule he also made successful military advancements into Northumbria, England.

Macbeth was defeated and captured in battle in 1057. This battle was in the name of returning, the old King Duncan I’s son, Malcolm Canmore to the throne. Close to the village of Lumphanan is a small cairn marking the spot he was beheaded by Malcolm Canmore, who became the future Malcolm III. In military terms Macbeth was regarded by ancient highland Clans as the last great Celtic ruler of Scotland. He had a reputation as a brave leader. He gained power and ruled in a fashion accepted in the time. His reign over Scotland was regarded as peaceful and prosperous.

 

 

 

Sincerely,

Rauncie Kinnaird

Clans on Broadway

Email: clans@sasktel.net Phone: 306-382-4443 Website: http://www.clansceltsandclover.com and http://www.kinnairdbagpipes.com

Clans on Broadway - MacBeth's Rehabilitation

MacBeth's Rehabilitation

Macbeth was an 11th Century Scottish King. His reign was a lengthy 17 years but his achievements have been clouded by the pen of Shakespeare. The play's portrayal of Macbeth as a murderer and tyrant lead to his long association with back luck.

Macbeth was born Mac Bethad mac Findlaich, meaning Son of Life, in Dingwall in 1005. Macbeth became king in 1040 when King Duncan I died in battle. While Shakespeare suggests Macbeth kills King Duncan there is no historical indication of this. These were violent times. Macbeth's cousin and about 50 followers were burned to death in their stronghold prior to his rule. However, history portrays Macbeth's rule as a more just rule than the later Dark Ages in Scotland.

 

Macbeth belonged to the House of Dunkeld rulers, whom ruled Scotland from 1034 to 1286. He was crowned at Scone (pronounced skoon) Palace, where many other early kings had also been crowned. As a Scottish monarch, his nickname became “the Red King”, for his ruddy face.

Macbeth imposed law and order. He encouraged the development of Christianity. Macbeth made a 6 month pilgrimage to Rome in 1050. It is speculated that there had to be considerable political stability for such an extended absence without a challenge to the throne. During his rule he also made successful military advancements into Northumbria, England.

Macbeth was defeated and captured in battle in 1057. This battle was in the name of returning, the old King Duncan I’s son, Malcolm Canmore to the throne. Close to the village of Lumphanan is a small cairn marking the spot he was beheaded by Malcolm Canmore, who became the future Malcolm III. In military terms Macbeth was regarded by ancient highland Clans as the last great Celtic ruler of Scotland. He had a reputation as a brave leader. He gained power and ruled in a fashion accepted in the time. His reign over Scotland was regarded as peaceful and prosperous.

 

Sincerely,

Rauncie Kinnaird

Clans on Broadway

Email: clans@sasktel.net Phone: 306-382-4443 Website: http://www.clansceltsandclover.com and http://www.kinnairdbagpipes.com

 

Kinnaird Bagpipes - Piping and Scottish Superstitions

Piping and Scottish Superstitions

There are superstitions all over the world about pretty much everything- don't step on a crack, don't let a black cat cross your path, pick up a penny for good luck. But, are there any superstitions about Bagpipes?

In Italy, bagpipe drones are traditionally tied with red ribbon to ward off the devil.

Some believe that you should never walk counter- clockwise while playing piobaireachd.

Many people believe that you should never play Lord Lovat's Lament at a wedding. This one has some historical basis to it. Simon Fraser kidnapped, raped and forced into marriage the Widow of the 10th Lord Lovat. During the attack, he had his piper play to cover up the screams and protests.

The tune "Flowers on the Forest" holds many superstitions. This tune was written by Jean Elliot of Teviotdale as a lament for the defeat at Flodden Field in 1513. Thousands of Scots were killed including several nobles, and King James IV. Some pipers believe that it is bad luck to play the tune unless someone has died. To do so would bring an impending death to someone close to the piper. Others say that the tune is not to be played in public unless it is at a funeral. Some believe that the tune should not be played indoors for any occasion. When practicing the tune, you must only play on the chanter, not the bagpipes.

 

Even today, there are many modern day superstitions still alive in Scotland. Nessie is still in the minds of many people, especially those who have to swim through the dreaded Loch Ness for a triathlon segment. These athletes all have ₤1,000,000 insurance, just in case Nessie bites them!

"The Scottish Play" is a euphemism for William Shakespeares play “Macbeth”. It is considered very bad luck for the theatre and the actors in the play to utter the words “Macbeth” at any other time than while they are performing the play. To say “Macbeth” is thought to bring about the curse that has haunted the play since it was first performed. The curse brings about bad luck, accidents, and even death for the actors and theatre.

Sincerely, Rauncie Kinnaird Kinnaird Bagpipes

 

Email: r.k@sasktel.net Phone: 306-249-2939 Website: http://www.kinnairdbagpipes.com