Blair

Delving into the eerie realms of folklore in my blog📚 Crafting spine-chilling tales in worlds of fantasy horror mysteries 🕯️

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🎩Fading of the Veil: A Scottish folklore filled "monster of the week" horror mystery in a Victorian/Edwardian inspired aetherpunk setting.

🌱Sprig: Someday, I want to write a solarpunk story. In the meantime, this blog is where I dump my ideas, as well as related science.

[blairstales]

Historical Scottish Christmas/Yule Basics

Scotland actually has a relatively short history with Christmas as we would typically think of it compared to other places, namely because it was illegal to celebrate it for a long time.

“Before the Reformation in 1560, Christmas in Scotland had been a religious feasting day. Then, with the powerful Kirk frowning upon anything related to Roman Catholicism, the Scottish Parliament passed a law in 1640 that made celebrating ‘Yule vacations’ illegal.” National Trust For Scotland

Christmas did not become a public holiday in Scotland until 1958. That does not mean that nothing was celebrated prior to that, but if or if not the laws were enforced depended on where you lived.

Many farming communities kept up traditions for a long time even though it was illegal, while other communities moved many of them to Hogmanay.

One thing you will notice while reading historical traditions in Scotland is that instead of Christmas, many people called it “Yule.” The word Yule (which has several alternative spellings) and many of the customs for it were brought over to Scotland by the Norse. Even after the church had firmly settled into Scotland, calling it “Yule” continued for much of Scottish history.

“Every time they are mentioned [in the church-records] it is in connection with some superstitious observances at Yuletide. On one occasion we find John Stewart, Andrew Robertson, and various others, charged with being “ down on the linkcs ” at Yule and charged ” not to do the like again.” One could wish that the Minute had been fuller on such an occasion. “Examples of Printed Folk-lore Concerning Fife: With Some Notes on Clackmannan and Kinross-shires by John Ewart Simpkins (1914)

It is perhaps no surprise that many of the traditions are thought to come from the origins of Yule. For example, Yule logs were very popular; which, by the way, is an actual log, not a dessert. However, wood was expensive and not always easy to get, leading to many people replaced the log with a candle.

In England the Yule log was often supplemented or replaced by a great candle. At Ripon in the eighteenth century the chandlers sent their customers large candles on Christmas Eve, and the coopers, logs of wood. 11-26 Hampson, writing in 1841, says:—

“In some places candles are made of a particular kind, because the candle that is lighted on Christmas Day must be so large as to burn from the time of its ignition to the close of the day, otherwise it will portend evil to the family for the ensuing year.” Credited to w11-26 Hampson, writing in 1841. In the book Christmas in Ritual and Tradition, by Clement A. Miles, [1912]

Yule was not the only other word used in Scotland, either. There was also Nollaig. This word described the celebrations lasting from around Christmas to new year.

There was also:

Oidhche nam bannagan (the night of Cakes) Christmas Eve

Latha Nollaig mhór (the day of big Nollaig): Christmas Day

Oidhche nan Calluinnean (the night of blows): New Years Eve

Latha Nollaig bhig (the day of little Nollaig): New Years Day

As well as the Nordic yule influence, the Roman festival of Saturnella is also thought to have had an influence on the bringing in of evergreen boughs (garland). For Saturnella, Priests obliged people to bring in boughs and springs of evergreens. 

Then, of course, there is the influence of more local paganism, such as for mistletoe. In fact, mistletoe was once thought of as such a pagan thing, that it was not welcome everywhere. Despite that, it became a common decoration.

 Brand ( Popular Antiquities 1819 , vol . 1 . p . 523 ) thinks that mistletoe was never put in churches among ever greens but by mistake or ignorance ; for , says he , it was the heathenish , or profane plant , as having been of such distinction in the pagan rites of druidism , and it had its place therefore assigned it in kitchens , where it was hung in great state British Popular Customs, Present and Past; Illustrating the Social and Domestic by T. F. Thistelton Dyer

Christmas, Yule, Latha Nollaig mhór, or whatever else it may be called, was a big celebration that pretty well stretched from then, to Hogmanay. 

Since it was such a big event, people did everything they could to finish their work before Yule, and they would try to not take new work in the span between the two celebrations. 

Today, most people do call it Christmas, and celebrate it in a way that would me more similar to other countries.

Note: all citations are on my website post here.

[blairstales]

Traditional Ways to Celebrate a Scottish Yule/Christmas

In this post I want to talk about traditional Yule practices in Scotland, but it may be noticed that there is little to no talk about going to church at all. This is not an intentional slight against the church, but simply that my sources don’t tend to mention it as part of the celebrations. Instead, most the traditions mention time with family and friends, as much and as grand of food as one could afford, and traditions to fight darkness/evil spirits.

All that may seem strange, but many of the traditions we do today were also done in Scotland. For example, the very idea of the Christmas Card is said to have been invented in Edinburgh.

"The idea of the greetings card was proposed to Mr. Drummond by an Edinburgh friend, Mr. Thomas Sturrock of Trinity, and the engraving was made by Mr. A. T. Aikman. It was the face of a cubby-cheeked boy with twinkling eyes, his face crinkled with laughter." Silver Bough: Vol 3 by F. Marian McNeill

Other traditions will be certainly less recognizable.

If you want to know about the basics of a Scottish historical Yule first, I have a post on that as well.

1. BREAKFAST

Today, some people have a tradition of a big breakfast on Christmas/Yule day, and that is not a new custom.

"The breakfast on Christmas morning was the best that could be afforded–milk porridge, creamy milk, butter, fish, ect." Notes on The Folk-Lore of the North-East of Scotland By Walter Gregor [1881]

Some people would have mutton, beef, or goose, while others ate a customary dish. People would typically just eat what they could afford, but a common dish was Sowens.

“The other was a cake the leaven of which had been moistened with water poured off “sowens,” which gave it a peculiar acid flavour. It was essential that both these kinds of cake should be baked during the night—at any rate, before daybreak on Christmas morning.” A History of Moray and Nairn by Charles J. Rampini (1897)

The women of the house would typically make it without any men around, then distribute it to the household while they were in bed (breakfast in bed).

Nine o’clock was an orthodox hour in Carglen , and at nine o’clock it was the orthodox rule to retire to rest , even on the eve of Yule . That is to say , the men folks retired ; the women were busy with the “ sowens ” -mysterious decoction ! So we all went to bed till midnight , and at the mystic hour of twelve the female folks awoke us , and deluged our stomachs till they could hold no more with the sweet , vile “ sowens . ”  The Folks O’ Carglen, Or, Life in the North Book by Alexander Gordon (1891)

2. FIRST-FOOTING

Just like on Hogmanay, some places practiced “first footing,” where it was considered lucky if a dark haired person was first to enter.

To start, a person would open the door, and be lucky for doing so. This was called “letting in Yule.”

"In some parts of Scotland , he who first opens the door on Yule Day expects to prosper more than any other member of the family during the future year because , as the vulgar express it , “ He lets in yule . " ”British Popular Customs, Present and Past; Illustrating the Social and Domestic by T. F. Thiselton-Dyer (1848-1923)

Then comes the superstition regarding hair. If the first person to enter your home had dark hair, that was also lucky.

3. NEW CLOTHES

It was often considered necessary to wear new clothes on Christmas day, and those without it would be rudely ridiculed.

Every means was used to have some piece of new dress, no matter how small. The one who was so unfortunate as to be without such a piece of dress bore the name of “Yeel’s jaad. Notes on The Folk-Lore of the North-East of Scotland By Walter Gregor [1881]

4. DANCING

Balls were one way to celebrate, and some were so much fun, that they could go on until daylight. Most commonly, these were held in barns.

"Balls were among the amusements of the season. A barn, conveniently situated for the district and sufficiently large, was selected. It was swept as clean as possible, and filled up with seats round the wall–deals supported on all manner of supports–stones, turf, cart-wheel bushes, bags filled with grain, &c. A plentiful supply of eaten cakes, biscuits, cheese, fish, ale, porter, whisky, and sugar for the toddy, was got, and committed to the care, of a few of the “hehds o’ the ball.” Notes on The Folk-Lore of the North-East of Scotland By Walter Gregor [1881]

5. GAMES

After breakfast, games would be played. This could be anything from Shinty, to a shooting contest, to some other type of game.

"As the day advances , those minor amusements are terminated at the report of the gun , or the rattle of the ball – clubs – the gun inviting the marksman to the ” Kiavamuchd , ” or prize – shoot ing , and the latter to ” Luchd – vouil , ” or the ball combatants – both the principal sports of the day ." The Popular Superstitions and Festive Amusements of the Highlanders of Scotland by William Grant Stewart (1823)

6. SAINING

Saining is the process of cleansing something or bestowing protection from the powers of evil. These could fight fairies, witchcraft, the evil eye, or bad luck.

On the 24th, fairies and trows in particular were said to be out in full force, so extra protection was in order.

In the case of Christmas, Juniper smoke may be used.

"A fire was kindled in each byre on Christmas morning, and in parts of the country the byres were purified by burning juniper in them." Notes on The Folk-Lore of the North-East of Scotland By Walter Gregor [1881]

As well as that, if you did not want something to go missing, it was recommended to put it away.

7. DINNER

Dinner traditions would change depending on your wealth and location.

"To have flesh for the Yeel dinner great exertion was made, as it was thought that the cattle would not thrive during the year if it was awanting. It was a custom not to sit down to the great dinner of the year till after sunset. The Yeel kebback was cut by the gueedeman. During the whole time of Yeel the diet was more generous than at other times." Notes on The Folk-Lore of the North-East of Scotland By Walter Gregor [1881]

Sometimes, the main dish would be dumplings or fish.

“Yeel” fish was bought. Sometimes this was done from fisherwomen who carried them over the country. Sometimes those in better circumstances went to the fishing villages, and bought the fish from the boat, carried them home, cured them, and smoked them on the kiln. Notes on The Folk-Lore of the North-East of Scotland By Walter Gregor [1881]

Even the cattle and sheep would get extra sheaf on Yule and New Year.

8. STORIES

Stories were a must, and sometimes that involved heading out to collect a good (old) storyteller.

This errand , on which we suppose the gude man and his assistants employed , is the procuring of Calluch Nollic , or Christmas Old Wife , an indispensable requisite for this occasion , and it will perhaps puzzle some of our readers , to guess the purpose for which the good woman is wanted . The Popular Superstitions and Festive Amusements of the Highlanders of Scotland by William Grant Stewart (1823)

Interestingly, other places had story traditions as well. For example, ghost stories were a common Christmas pass-time for the Victorians.

[blairstales]

My account is back!

It was terminated again after posting my artwork.

This was the post that doomed me again:

Blair

Scottish Folklore: Brollachan (pronounced "Broll-agh-can") Modern folklore (that I can not find a source for) says that the Brollachan can

I am not sure what I am doing wrong. 🤔 This is two times in a row that my account was terminated directly after posting my art. The first time, they responded saying my account was marked as spam and it would not happen again...then it happened again.

[blairstales]

Scottish Folklore: Brollachan (pronounced "Broll-agh-can")

Modern folklore (that I can not find a source for) says that the Brollachan can take over the bodies of weak-willed creatures.

If you want more information on the Brollachan, there is a Blog Post Here

[blairstales]

I sort of (absolutely) got carried away with this Scottish folklore drawing, because they are only ever described as "blue men," not made of water.

If you want more information on The Blue Men of the Minch, there is a blog post here.

[blairstales]

Here is today's mini historical Scottish folklore lesson! To be honest, the Dracæ really remind me of the mimics in DnD.

Here is the blog post.

[blairstales]

Here is another mini historical Scottish folklore lesson!

Want more info than what I shared here? Here is a post that also shares the books and historical audio recordings I sourced from.

Note: To save a little time, I didn't draw the rowan graphic. Instead, I used a public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.

[blairstales]

The Brownie

It seems a few people enjoyed the last mini historical Scottish folklore lesson, so here is another!

Want even more info? Here is a blog post.

[blairstales]

My account was terminated after posting this that. Obviously, my account was restored after I inquired why (apparently, I was flagged as spam), but I don't think anyone saw my post, so I am sharing again just in case.

[blairstales]

The Brownie

It seems a few people enjoyed the last mini historical Scottish folklore lesson, so here is another!

Want even more info? Here is a blog post.

[blairstales]

I thought I would try making a bite-sized bit of historical Scottish folklore, mixed with my art. If people like this, I will do more.

If you want sources for anything mentioned, you can find them in my post here.

[blairstales]

One of my other accounts where I just post writing advice was terminated without warning or reason. I have no way to tell the followers I lost on there what happened, so that really made me want to tell you all where else you can find me.

Website

Mastodon

I'm not going to lie, I am completely baffled. On that account, I literally just posted writing advice directed at fantasy writers (mostly in regards to world building), so I can't think of anything I could have done wrong.

[blairstales]

Hope you have a wonderfully spooky night 🎃

📝 Reminder: I have posts on historical Scottish Samhain/Samhuinn folklore

📖 Historic Halloween ( Samhuinn/Samhain): The Basics

👻 Fairies, Turnips, and Ghost; oh my~!

💃 Costumes, Fairs, and Fancy Balls

🐈‍⬛ Cat-Sìth

🔮 Predicting the Future

🍺 Isle of Lewis Sea God: Shony

[blairstales]

Bringing Fairy-Faith Overseas

[Dancing Fairies, 1866 (Oil on Canvas), by August Malmstrom]

I've seen it stated by some that "fairies can't exist outside of Europe." Well, I am a folklore nerd, so I have some thoughts on that. However, before we get started, it is worth noting that the indigenous people of the Americas have their own otherworldly creatures; from the Sasquatch, to serpents lurking in lakes, and far more. I am in no way attempting to overwrite that folklore. Instead, both that folklore and those brought by settlers exist today side-by-side.

When settlers arrived to North America, they brought their fairy-faith with them. For example, in Cape Breton(Nova Scotia, Canada), there is a long history of fairy-faith. Even the community of Inverness is known in gaelic as "An Sithean," due to the area having a fairy mound, and they have their own stories of people getting the gift of music talent from fairies.

That might be less of a surprise after learning that Nova Scotia means “New Scotland.”

I have been told by people who live there that you can still find homes with Rowan trees planted by the door (more on the topic of rowan here) in old communities.

As well as people bringing their faith with them, there are also stories of fairies themselves following people as the emigrated.

For example, there is a story in Popular Tales of the West Highlands: Vol 2, by J. F. Campbell (1896) where the farm of Callum Mohr MacIntosh is watched over by a mostly helpful — though sometimes mischievous — fairy. He need only exclaim to his wife, "Oh, wife. Would that we had the tree I felled in the forest! it would keep us warm this night." and there would be a thud as the tree would appear outside the door.

When the couple found themselves forced to leave for New York with many of their neighbors, Callum was surprised to find the fairy waiting on the shore and taunting, "Ha! Callum, I am here before thee!"

"—...rumour says that Callum was the better of the Bauchan's help in clearing the lands of his new settlement, and that, till he was fairly in the way of prosperity, the Bauchan abstained from teasing and provoking poor Callum." Popular Tales of the West Highlands: Vol 2, by J. F. Campbell (1896)

Documentaries:

If you'd like to know more about fairy-faith in Canada, there are some fantastic documentaries.

[blairstales]

Am Fear Liath Mor: The Big Grey Man of Ben Macdui | Scottish Folklore

The second highest peak in the British Isles rises up out of the Cairngorms in Scotland, and holds the name of Ben Macdui(or Beinn MacDuibh). Visiting it’s summit is a notoriously dangerous feat; with the sudden changes in weather taking the lives of many hikers throughout history.

There is also a ghostly fairy that has made this peak famous: Am Fear Liath Mòr.

Also known as Big Grey Man, or Ferlas Mor, this resident of Ben Macdui is most frequently reported by people feeling an eerie presence; such as by an icy sensation in the air or a chilling brush against the skin.

[“Ben Macdui and Derry Cairngorm from flanks of Beinn Mheadhoin” by Peter Hudson ]

Those who have sighted Am Fear Liath Mòr often describe him as a giant that stands over ten feet tall, with long arms and broad shoulders.

One of the most famous accounts comes from Professor J. Norman Collie. In 1891, Collie was navigating through thick mist, when he heard the telltale crunching sounds of steps following behind him…but each of those steps spanned a greater distance than his own by three or four times. Much to his growing dread, this continued until he decided to flee.

Collie’s encounter is not unique. Many climbers have reported similar experiences, including one by Dr. Kellas in 1926. He recounted seeing a figure about the same height as the summit cairn. When he asked a local living nearby about it, the old man replied without any surprise, “Oh, aye. That would have been the ferlas mohr he would have been seeing.”

[“Trig Point on summit of Ben MacDhui” by Eric Sim]

In 1943, climber Alexander Tewnion, encountered a shape emerging from the mist. Believing it to be the Big Grey Man, Tewnion fired three shots at the figure in a panic. The mysterious entity, however, remained unperturbed, prompting him to hastily retreat down the mountain.

"A strange shape loomed up, receded, came charging at me! Without hesitation I whipped out the revolver and fired three times at the figure. When it still came on I turned and hared down the path, reaching Glen Derry in a time that I have never bettered. You may ask was it really the Fear Laith Mhor? Frankly, I think it was." Evening Star, Issue 19159, 28 January 1926, Page 2: HAUNTED MOUNTAIN, A TEN-FOOT GHOST, BEN MACDHUI’S “GREY MAN.” (Quoting Alexander Tewnion from the June 1958 issue of The Scots)

One attempted explanation involves an optical illusion called Brocken Spectre. A Brocken Spectre is an optical phenomenon where an observer’s magnified shadow appears surrounded by a halo-like ring of light on a cloud or mist, typically seen from mountain peaks.

Whether one interprets the experiences of those who have encountered him as supernatural or as mere optical and auditory illusions, the stories continue.

There is one final quote from Always a Little Further by Alastar Borthwick (1939) that I want to share. In it, a man was out with a search-party, and decided to ask the local gameskeepers and stalkers what they thought of “Ferlas Mor.”

They looked at him for a few seconds before one finally stated, “We do not talk about that.”

Further Reading:

Newspaper Articles:

MOUNTAIN GHOST IN GRAMPIAN PASS: Star (Christchurch), Issue 17752, 23 January 1926, Page 8

HAUNTED MOUNTAIN, A TEN-FOOT GHOST, BEN MACDHUI’S “GREY MAN.” Evening Star, Issue 19159, 28 January 1926, Page 2

Books:

Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore  by Bane, Theresa (2016)

Scottish folklore by Lamont-Brown, Raymond, (1939)

Always a Little Further by Alastar Borthwick (1939)

A–Z of ghosts and supernatural by Knight, Jan (1980)

Historic Audio Recordings

(link) Track ID: 33273 | Date: 1973 | Title: The Grey Man of Ben Macdui | Language: English

(link) Track ID: 33273 | Date: 1973 | Title: Prògram Choinnich | Language: Gaelic

[blairstales]

Illustration to Tam O'Shanter by Robert Burns. Study for an Engraving by John Faed

Status: Public Domain

[blairstales]

Cìrein Cròin: Scottish Sea Monster

Cìrein Cròin was described as a colossal sea monster and was known by many names or alternatives spellings. Some of those other names are:

mial mhòr a’ chuain (the great beast of the ocean)

curtag mhòr a’ chuain (the great whirlpool of the ocean)

uile bhéisd a’ chuain (the monster of the ocean)

ceirean

Cirein-croin

Cionarain-cro

"A sea monster in Scottish Gaelic folklore, thought to be the largest of all living creatures, capable of making a meal of seven whales." A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology by James MacKillop (2004)

The great sea beast represented the uncontrollable nature of the sea, making it something to be both respected and feared.

This was the largest animal in the world, as may be inferred from a popular Caithness rhyme: ‘Seven herring are a salmon’s fill, Seven salmon are a seal’s fill. Seven seals are a whale’s fill, And seven whales the fill of a Cirein Croin.’ A Encyclopedia of Fairies by Katharine Briggs (1976)

Cìrein Cròin is sometimes described as a sea serpent, but other times is simply called a sea monster or sea beast.

Many people online state that there is a story where Cìrein Cròin can transform into a small silver fish. Once he is caught up by fishermen, he transforms back into his true form and eats the humans.

Sadly, none of the pages online seem to say where this story is sourced from, and I haven’t found it’s origin myself just yet.