THE HIGHLAND YULE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17223, 14 December 1923, Page 10 (Supplement)

THE HIGHLAND YULE.

OLD-TIME OBSERVANCES. Though nowadays Yuletide in the Highlands is observed very much as it is elsewhere in Scotland, it was cele- j bra ted in much more picturesque ; fashion 100 years ago (writes “A.P.,” in the “Weekly Scotsman”). ; Then it was part of the duty of the herd boy six weeks before Christ- j lpas to dig up bog fir an c j get it well j dried and split ui> into “fir candles,” i so that there might be the brightest obtainable light in the home at this j season. A few days before Christmas ’ the young men and maidens gathered in some . of St Maelruhba’s sacred holly, and thus the home was tlecor- ! a ted an-rl bright. On Christmas Eve it was the duty . of the head of the household to go to | ! the woods, cut a tree stump, which lie j ! home, and then place it in the middle J of the big peat lire burning in the j centre of the room there were few 1 chimneyed houses in those da vs—and j the company cracked their jokes while 1 the “Christmas old wife” blazed. j I ho “sacrifice” was supposed in some i places to propitiate the “ Angel of . Death.” who was 'expected because of it to refrain from visiting the house I for. a j-ear. When-only the ashes were 1 j left, the company abandoned them- 1 selves to all manner of gaiety. The j j chief indoor game was a kind of 1 i “blind man’s buff.” To play at this a youth had to pop his head into a hag and to place his hand on his back, i palm outwards. All the company then i in rotation struck the open hand, and I the • hagman” had to guess who I struck him last. Jf he did so correctly i the last striker had to put his head | into the bag and take his turn, j On Christmas morning the housewife < I was up early and made scones from | meal steeped a fortnight before. After I the baking was over the “sowans pot” was put on. and wlmn the contents had been boiled to the consistency of | treacle it was poured into bowls, on© | of which was handed to each of the family in bed. The older folk then rose and went, out to examine the Mgn-s of the day. as it was almost an article of 1 heir religion that “A black Christmas makes a fat kirkyard.” and that “A windy Christmas and a calm Candlemas save a good year.” After breakfast the young people proceeded to a high swing erected for the occasion The youngest of the family got the first “shove,” and the oilier? followed ir. regular rotation ;u--coi'<l nig to their ages. Whilst stving- | preaching, the thvulcd. ‘-Ui

eat your kail:” To this the swinger replied with a violent shove, “You shan’t eat mv kail.” Later .in the-day there was shQpting or -shinty matches, and-a hearty dinner, with some toast drinking, one toast which was always given by the oldest of the company being “To Those Who Are Away.” This was followed by dancing, and perhaps some card playing. On New Year’s Eve people looked for the “Candlemas Bull,” for the term Candlemas was applied to the New Year in the Highlands—being derived, it.is supposed, from some old religious ceremonies performed on this occasion bv candlelight. This “bull” was nothing more or less than a small passing cloud which Highland imagination shaped into the form of a bull. Much was to be gathered, so it was believed, from watching the place of its rise, tlie direction it took, and the place of its disappearance. Whether the bull was seen or not, the men, armed with ropes and as soon as the sun set, shaped their course to a place where juniper bushes grew, and returned home with loads of it. which they placed round the fire to dry. Some careful person was then despatched to “a place where the livi ing and the dead pass’* (underneath a j bridge), drew a pitcher of water whic h had to he carried “dumb”—that is, j the carrier must not speak a word either going or coming—and was to be very careful that the pitcher did not I touch the ground. Early on New 1 ear's morning light and fire were kindled, and the master j of the ceremonies for the day proceeded to the several beds in the house. By means of a brush he sprinkled this holy water on the occupants, thus ensuring them from all harm by witchcraft or evil eye for a whole year. I When this was done all crevices, vents, i doors, etc, were shut, piles of juniper j were kindled upon the floor, and soon i the house was filled with pungent j smoke. Then followed sneezing, ( wheezing, coughing, and cries for air. When they were thought to have had enough of this, doors and/vents were j opened : and. while the master went j cattle, the housewife passed round the I bottle, hand clasped hand, and all , wished one another the compliments of the season. All procurable luxuries were then quickly spread on the table, passing | neighbours were invited in to partake j of tlie good tilings, and the day ended i with dancing and music.