It is 1:03 a.m. on Saturday morning here in Scotland. There are so many things to write about as the last few weeks have been full, but for the moment I want to talk about what we did this evening.
We have a friend who is a minister, and has been in Penucuik (a town roughly 30 miles outside Edinburgh) with his family since January due to a new post at a church there. They are dear friends of ours, so we're delighted they live so close! Tonight was his 'official' welcome ceilidh. You might be wondering how to pronounce this word and the answer is: kaylee At least that's the best way I can think to describe it. A ceilidh is an evening of dancing in Scotland and Wikipedia describes it like this:
The music is cheerful and lively, and the basic steps can be learned easily; a short instructional session is often provided for new dancers before the start of the dance itself.
The general format of céilidh dancing is the "Set". A Set consists of four couples, with each pair facing another in a square or rectangular formation. Each couple exchanges position with the facing couple, and also facing couples exchange partners, while all the time keeping in step with the beat of the music.
However, about half of the dances in the modern Scots céilidh are couple dances performed in a ring. These can be performed by fixed couples or in the more sociable "progressive" manner, with the lady moving to the next gentleman in the ring at or near the end of each repetition of the steps.
I rather like the happy-go-lucky manner in which Wiki' paints the ceilidh picture. They are right, of course, the ceilidh is an evening of pure, wholesome, family fun. Tonight, Brian experienced his first full ceilidh. It was hosted by our friend's congregation and held in the Penicuik Miners Club. The evening began at 7:30 p.m. Around 9:30 p.m. we stopped to enjoy a handsome spread of food, and returned to the dance floor around 10:30 p.m. It is traditional to end all ceilidhs with a rendition of Auld Lan Syne. I have to say, that I had the tiniest of lumps in my throat as we pounded our arms up and down to the tune. It's just lovely to be back and I have missed ceilidhs.
So, tomorrow we'll wake up with bruised arms (from the dance named Strip the Willow which involves a great deal of spinning with your partner by the arms), sore muscles, and achy feet, but we'll have good memories of a very decent night out.
Disclaimer: It is very late. Typos are likely. Grammar may seem infantile at best. It is very late.
1 comment:
Oh, what FUN, I wish I could have been there! I feel like a relative who missed a reunion...I would have loved to see the Cathcart's and dance the night away just like at your wedding! Of course the pre-wedding 'teach the American's to ceiledh' was an absolute riot as well. Complete with starving wedding party members, waltzing for the first time (with your Da, Fi!), wedding guests realizing they flew from the States on the SAME PLANE!!
You missed it - but afterwards a bunch of us went across to the pub (can't remember the name)to keep the night going. After which, Dan & Dave walked me home - of course we had to take the adventurous route (per Dan) and hike down a very little trail in the very dark Scottish night - only to be dead-ended by the river, and needing to turn around and do the whole process in reverse!! Their side of the story of course may be that we had to walk down to the wharf and then up to the Manor because it was the only way I knew how to get 'home' at that juncture! What memories. Jane
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