Superstitions of the Highlands & Islands of Scotland: Collected Entirely from Oral SourcesCampbell, John Gregorson
History
Superstitions of the Highlands & Islands of Scotland: Collected Entirely from Oral Sources
Campbell, John Gregorson
Folklore -- Scotland
If the cake for breakfast falls backwards, the person for whom it is
intended should not be allowed to go on a journey that day; his journey
will not be prosperous. The evil can, however, be remedied by giving
plenty of butter, ‘without asking,’ with the cake. To avert this omen,
cakes should not be placed to harden at the fire on their points, but
on either of the two sides or on their round edge. An old woman in
Islay got into a great rage at a wake on seeing the cakes (that is,
quarters of a _farl_ or large round bannock) placed on their points.
It is not good to count the cakes when done baking. They will not in
that case last any time.
_Removal Cheese (Mulchag Imrich)._—When leaving the summer pastures in
the hills, on Lammas day, and returning with the cattle to the strath,
a small cheese made of curds was made from that day’s milk, to be
given to the children and all who were at the _àiridh_, for luck and
good-will. The cows were milked early in the morning, curds were made
and put in the cheese vat (_fioghan_), and this hastily-prepared cheese
was the _mulchag imrich_, and was taken with the rest of the furniture
home for the purpose mentioned.
_Leg Cake (Bonnach Lurgainn)._—This was a cake given to the herd when
he came with news that a mare had foaled, or to the dairy-maid when she
brought word that a cow had calved.
_Giving Fire out of the House._—On the first day of every quarter of
the year—New-Year day, St Bride’s day, Beltane, and Lammas—no fire
should be given out of the house. On the two last days especially it
should not be given, even to a neighbour whose fire had gone out. It
would give him the means of taking the substance or benefit (_toradh_)
from the cows. If given, after the person who had come for it left, a
piece of burning peat (_ceann fòid_) should be thrown into a tub of
water, to keep him from doing harm. It will also prevent his coming
again. On New-Year’s day fire should not be given out of the house on
any consideration to a doubtful person. If he is evil-disposed, not a
beast will be alive next New Year. A suspected witch came on this day
to a neighbour’s house for fire, her own having gone out, and got it.
When she went away a burning peat was thrown into a tub of water. She
came a second time and the precaution was again taken. The mistress of
the house came in, and on looking in the tub found it full of butter.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account