FORGOTTEN SCOTTISH CUSTOMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3995, 7 October 1930, Page 62

FORGOTTEN SCOTTISH CUSTOMS.

Very few of the quaint old customs that were once so popular in Scotland prevail to-day, probably for the reason that as a race we are less superstitious than were our forefathers. True, many of the Border towns and villages still practise (more or less with modern innovations) some of the customs referred to, though not from the same motives as those of our forefathers, but simply to carry on a tradition. Changed conditions have also played their part in rendering obsolete so many of those ancient customs, though in some cases the customs are carried on faithfully, despite the fact that they are no longer necessary. Thus, although we do not require to “ride the marches” to ensure that there are no encroachments, every burgh on which land was at one time bestowed, and from which land was liable to be seized by the raiders, carries on this old custom. And long may they continue to do so.

It was at one time the custom amongst the housewives of Rutherglen to bake “sour cakes” for St. Luke’s Fair. The cakes were made as follows: A quantity of oatmeal was made into a dough with hot water, placed in a large basin, covered with a plate, and allowed to ferment for several hours, after which a generous quantity of sugar and a little aniseed or cinnamon were stirred into it. The shaping and the toasting of the cakes was a public affair and took place some eight or ten days before the Fair was due to begin. The method of procedure was as follows: Upon the floor of some 'house chosen for the making of the cakes a portion was marked out" in chalk, the area within the chalked portion being considered consecrated ground, and any person other than the bakers intruding upon it was made to pay a small fine, which generally went to pay for the liquid refreshments that usually accompanied the ceremony. In the centre of this hallowed spot an improvised stove <was rigged up, on top of which a girdle for toasting the cakes was placed. Six or eight local housewives gathered round the stove, and (excepting the toaster) seated themselves in a circle with large baking boards upon their knees. The housewife who toasted the cakes was termed the “bride” or “queen,” and those who shaped the cakes were termed the “ maidens,” who were distinguished one from the other by names given to them for the occasion. The woman who faced due east was termed the todler, her companion on the left was the hodler, while the others had similar names given to them by the “ queen.” The todler took a handful of the dough, shaped it into a ball, then beat it flat on the board with the palms of her hands. . She then passed it on to the hodler, who beat it a little flatter; and in this manner each cake was passed round the circle. As would be expected, by the time it reached the toaster .it was almost as thin as a piece of tissue paper. It was toasted on the girdle for four or five minutes, then dropped into a basket kept specially for this purpose. Hundreds of these cakes were baked at one sitting.

The shaping of the cakes was invariably accompanied by music from the bagpipes, the beaters keeping time with their hands.

The manner in which the Lammas festival was celebrated in Midlothian "was rather peculiar. A month or so before the festival was due to begin the herdsmen in the district formed themselves into separate bands, and each band built a tower in some conspicuous place near the centre of the district. These towers were composed of sods, or stones, being almost 10ft high and 4ft equate at the bottom, and tapering into

a point afthe top. In the centre of each a hole was dug, into which a flagstaff that was to contain their particular colours was placed. Not infrequently some band took it into their heads to demolish a rival tower, and to guard against the possibility of surprise each herdsman was armed with a tooting horn, which he blew as soon as an attacking party was sighted. When Lammas Day arrived each band elected a captain; and, dressed in their Sunday best and armed with stout cudgels, they marched to their tower and displayed their colours in triumph. When two parties met they invariably demanded each other to lower their colours in subjection; and when the parties were unevenly matched the weaker side usually complied without demur, but when there was little difference in them, the argument usually ended in bloodshed.

In many of the Highland villages of Scotland it was the custom when a person was dying to summon all available friends, relatives, and neighbours to . the death-bed for the purpose of “ singing the departing soul into heaven.” The piece selected was usually the 43rd or the 118th Psalm, which they sang together in a low voice until the spirit had departed. Sometimes this singing continued without a break for days at a time, the singers performing the ceremony in relays. When the person died, the whole company started singing a portion of the 107th Psalm in a loud tone of voice.

The ancient funeral customs of Scotland were rather unusual, and although these varied according to the part in which the burial took place, a great deal of eating and drinking invariably attended the ceremony.

When the mourners were “bidden to the burial ” no time was mentioned, ten in the morning being generally regarded as the hour of assembly, and three in the afternoon as the hour of “lifting,” the intervening five hours being occupied in treating the guests to “ services,” ■which included “burial bread,” ale, whisky, and tobacco. Some of the guests brought “services” with them for the benefit of others; and it was nothing unusual in those days to see a mourner arriving at the place where the body lay (in those days it was generally a barn) carrying a large jar of whisky. Indeed, cases are on record of mourners carrying jars of whisky to the churchyard to provide a dram over the grave. Not infrequently dancing took place between the “ services,” the nearest relatives of the deceased being given the privilege of opening the ball.

In these days when we hear so much about “ nagging ” wives, the method employed by the husbands of Langholm for dealing with them is specially interesting. There was in this village a curiously shaped instrument which was termed the “ branks.” It was shaped like a gas helmet, and inside was a sharp spike, which fitted into the mouth, effectively silencing anyone on whose head it happened to be placed. With her head encased in this the nagging wife was led through the streets of the village by her husband and some of his cronies. According to the records of this custom the “ branks ” usually brought about a complete reformation of the delinquent. The “branks” was invented by a local blacksmith, on whose wife the hitherto popular method of ducking proved abortive.—Glasgow Weekly Herald.