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The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for The Capital Scot is the Web's niche of topics not found in the mainstream of Web sites about Scotland. This feature represents question and answer exchanges between The Capital Scot and you, its readers. Consequently it represents the general interests of a lot of people who know very little about Scotland as well as the special interests of a few people who know a lot about Scotland. Your are welcome.
NOTE: The Capital Scot provides links to (not necessarily exchanges with) commercial sites that have information necessary to answer readers' questions and provide Scottish Heritage content in addition to their advertising.
Frequently throughout this FAQ you mention performing a "Google" search. What is "Google"?
"Google" is a search engine, found at http://www.google.com/ that The Capital Scot recommends for most questions asked of this site. It may also be accessed directly from here. Note that you may also Select Search thecapitalscot.com
to search just this site.
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I would like to obtain printed copies of some of your articles. I have difficulty printing. Please advise.
While The Capital Scot does not normally send material via post, if you have a small "order" he should be glad to print and mail material on a most limited, case-by-case basis. Please advise which articles and the address to use.
Alternatively, suggest you find someone with a printer you can rely on or use a commercial service.
I saw an article on The Capital Scot that I would like to reproduce on my Web site. May I?
When The Capital Scot publishes an article from another source (e.g., a Feature of the Week), the source indicated at the start and end of the article. Recommend that you do this:
I would like a link on The Capital Scot to my Web site.
Please see the item Link Exchanges with This Site
at the Subscribers page. Should those conditions be acceptable to you, please advise. I would propose a link to your site on that page and see a link to mine at an appropriate place on yours. The information is repeated here for your convenience.
The Capital Scot does not sell advertising. Link exchanges are available at no cost to organizations whose principal focus is related to Scottish or Celtic heritage.
The Capital Scot requests that commercial sites wanting a link exchange make a one-time contribution to the Washington Saint Andrew's Society's Scholarship Committee (size determined by the giver). The Charity and Education Fund is a 501(c)(3)-certified subsidiary of the Washington Saint Andrew's Society. (See IRS.) The largest use of the fund is awards made to scholars enrolled in US or Scottish institutions for the third or fourth year of College or University or full-time graduate study. See Scholarships .
The Capital Scot is not an intermediary. Contributions are made directly by the giver to the fund C/O:
Mr. T. J. Holland, Chairman, Charity & Education Fund Scholarship Committee, St. Andrew's Society of Washington D.C., 1443 Laurel Hill Road, Vienna, Virginia 22182-1711.
The Capital Scot will engage in a link exchange with any site that might interest readers and that meets the guidelines indicated at the "Safe for Kids" provision found on the page "About The Capital Scot". Links will be exchanged, free of charge.
While The Capital Scot enjoys enriching the Web with link exchanges, sites with no Scottish or Celtic relationship are generally, regrettably declined. The sense of this site is to provide information about Scottish and other Celtic heritages. Although a small part of the site is dedicated to Web design, a) It notes that the service at this time. and b) It recommends someone of Scottish descent who does design for many Scottish and Celtic organizations and activities in the Washington, DC area.
I would like a link on The Capital Scot to my Web chat site.
The Capital Scot appreciates, but respecfully declines, offers of link exchanges to sites with chat functions. Additionally, striving the keep the site safe for kids
precludes links to links to any chat site.
I am having terrible problem viewing this website. What's wrong?
Since the inception of The Capital Scot, and the sites it hosts in January 1997 there have been three reports of not being able to access the site properly. Each user has experienced different symptoms. No reader likes to hear that it is a "browser problem"; in fact I believe it is probably not. It is probably something in the configuration of the user's computer. A Web site that I maintain for my employer had a similar complaint on one occasion. While I do not know what the solution for you may be, the solution for my employer was to swap out the entire operating system and disk of the person with the problem. I cannot offer a solution. I can only stand by the fact that the code used on the Web site has been validated by the W3C validator http://validator.w3.org/ and is technically accessible by any browser. I find it painful to provide what must seem to you to be such an unsatisfactory answer; but, there I am.
My ancestors came from [place in Scotland]. Our surname is [Scottish surname] but in looking back in genealogy we have people with a somewhat different spelling of the same surname. Where might that person have come from? Also do you have a site of ships that left [place in Scotland] for [overseas location] between specific years?
Have you tried your question at the [Scottish surname] Genealogy forum and seen the resources at Scottish Genealogy Research Sources which now also has a listing dedicated to the beginner?
Please note the information at this site's About
page: The Capital Scot provides replies to requests for information on genealogical lineages - particularly those pertaining to specific persons - by referring readers to commonly used sources of genealogical information. Some of the better known, on-line, sources may be found at the Scottish Genealogy Research Source Directory. A full, genealogical research service is not available at this time.
I have been tracing my family and have hit a dead end. My [Scottish ancestor] was a [Scottish surname] so that was easy to trace to Scotland. I have got stopped at a certain date and would like to continue. Can you help me?
See prior answer, above.
My name [Scottish surname]. I have been told that name was somehow rooted in Scotland. How can I find out?
First, please search the Ancestry.com site on the name [Scottish surname]. A Geneaology.com search on the Site Search
and Family Finder Search
for [Scottish surname] will return some results. Generally, do a Google search on the term < scottish name [Scottish surname] > Please see Scottish Genealogy Research Source Directory.
Are there any records of shipping movements out of Glasgow [between 19th Century dates]?
The Capital Scot is not an expert on shipping. However, you may want to start with some of the suggestions and sources identified at the following locations:
If an ancestor had been a ship's master - Lloyd's Register
If the ancestor had been a passenger, then Cyndi's List for ships and passengers and Cyndi's List for immigration (if US).
Another promising source might be OliveTreeGenealogy.com where you can Search for your ancestors in free Ships' Passenger lists, Naturalization Records, Palatine Genealogy, Canadian Genealogy, USA Genealogy, Native American Genealogy, Huguenots, Mennonites, Almshouse Records, Orphan Records, church records, military muster rolls, census records, land records and much more
.
I am looking for a [Scottish surname] that had a baby in [date], at [place]. The person I am seeking was adopted [recent date]. How can I locate the adopted person?
Regrettably, The Capital Scot can address some genealogy questions but cannot help with what sounds like tracing a missing person - a quest with a greater urgency. However, if you have the patience for it, you may want to pursue your detective work using genealogy practices and sources. There are guides linked from Genealogy Research Sources - For the Beginner. It sounds as if you might want to start with public records of birth, hospital records, US Census records, and adoption records. A slow-moving long shot might be to try genealogy bulletin boards such as Genealogy Forum.
A relative was killed during World War II while serving with the US Army. I believe he had been stationed in [any Scottish city] during [any dates]. My research leads me to believe that he may have been stationed at an American military site near [any Scottish city] Could you confirm this information? Any help in finding out more about my relative would be grately appreciated.
The Capital Scot has very little experience in researching military personnel and units. However, you might start with the following sites and following up with correspondence that they recommend:
In the dictionary there are two forms of pronunciation of the word Celtic. One is Kel'tek and the other is Sel'tek. Which is the correct pronunciation?
It is widely believed that the "K" sound best represents the Gaelic sound in English. Please see The Capital Scot's Past Feature of the Week on this topic at Pronunciation Of Celtic Heritage
Could you please help me out? I am looking for the Scottish Gaelic words for LOVE, HONOUR, TRUST, UNITY, and FRIENDSHIP. I would like the spelling and pronunciation of each if you could help me that would be wonderful.
Here are links to some English-Gaelic and Gaelic-English dictionaries:
The foregoing links pertain mostly to Gaelic-English translations. However, may I suggest performing a Google search on the following terms: english gaelic translate. You will get numerous, commercial sites for English-Gaelic and Gaelic-English translations that want some sort of subscription. The most straight-forward offering - for on-line self-service - seems to be: Irish dictionary on-line (subscription $10.00/year)
Another reader later asked about the phrase for Merry Christmas
in Gaelic. Add to the foregoing answer that if you enter the word christmas
into the Irish dictionary on-line it will return the Gaelic for Merry Christmas
.
Can you tell me where I might find the birth date of Renee Cameron Maclean? Or her age today (2002)?
I have searched several sites and not been able to find the birthdate of Mrs. Maclean. According to the Web site at http://www.gsi.org.uk/sorley1.htm in 1944 Sorley Maclean (Somhairle MacGill-Eain) met Renee Cameron, a native of Inverness, whose mother, from Perthshire, was of the same stock as Dugaid Buchanan. Sam and Renee were married on 24th July 1946. Perhaps The Gaelic Society of Inverness might be of help with your question: Mrs Anne Souter, Secretary, 15 Green Drive, Inverness, IV2 4EX. Also, perhaps a message to Craig Cockburn at craig@siliconglen.com might help. Mr. Cockburn is the Web's expert on Scottish culture.
How do I find the "Society of Descendents of Queen Boadecia"?
The question was -- Some time ago our family learned that we have a blood line directly back to Queen Boudicca. I have been doing research for many years on our family geneology, have membership in many family societies, and would like to become a member of the "Society of Descendents of Queen Boadecia". I have not been able to find a listing for that society. Does it exist? Could you provide a mailing address, email address or phone number?
The Capital Scot replied -- That's quite a question. I poked around a bit and the closest I could get to finding any lead was:
- The town of Colchester has a "Colchester Street Festival" where reenactors portray historical figures relative to the town, including Queen Baudicca. Some of the participants are: Colchester Borough Council, and The Colchester Historical Re-enactment Society (Queen Boadicea and the Celts). Perhaps the Colchester Borough Council could put you in contact with someone who may know of a "Society of Descendents of Queen Boadecia".
- Perhaps contacting the owner of the Roman Ranactment and Archery site at http://www.camulos.com/Romans/re-enact.htm might be helpful.
- Perhaps contacting the Colchester Borough Council at feedback@colchester.gov.uk might help.
Other sources provided mixed replies:
- Never heard of such a society ... The evidence simply does not exist. One could claim to be of Celtic descent, provable by DNA sampling from Iron Age burials. (Although most were cremated.)
- It is delightful to learn that the descendants of Queen Boudica have survived and are flourishing in America. She and her family received atrocious treatment at the hands of the Roman empire and her tribe suffered in a famine at the end of the revolt she led against Rome. It is typical of the Unites States that her descendants should have found a safe haven in the New World, unlike the persecution she endured here.
- Sad to relate, there is no organisation at Colchester that brings together the descendants of Queen Boudica. This is understandable because Colchester was sacked by this famous warrior leader and her followers in AD 60 and the entire population of the town was wiped out in what would nowadays be described as an act of ethnic cleansing. Although the town has subsequently forgiven her, she was not a local woman and none of her family or kin ever settled permanently in Essex. Her homeland lay some miles to the north in the lovely counties of Norfolk and Suffolk where Boudica ruled the Iceni tribe. It is there that the other desccendants of her royal familty are probably to be found.
For more information on this topic see http://www.gallica.co.uk/celts/boudica.htm and some serendipity at http://www.amadan.org/HDR/archives/CIARAN9.TXT
What is the correct pronunciation of Boudica?
It's interesting how there is sporadic and continuing interest in Boudica. For pronunciation please see http://www.gallica.co.uk/celts/boudica.htm. Search the page for the word pronounce and learn that the spelling of the name is uncertain. Although "Boudica" is followed by Salway and Frere, among others, it probably should be "Boudica", which means "victory" in Celtic and would be the equivalent of the modern "Victoria". In any event, "Boadicea" is incorrect. (pronounce Boudica - Boo-di-ka). Also see http://tthaforumarchives.info/archives/2003/H03018.txt and search on Boadicea on the last page.
Would you have any idea where I might be able to purchase George Buchanan's History of Scotland? I have searched the Web without joy.
I googled the term
george buchanan history of scotland
and received results that include this link. The page at this link has reproductions of the book for reading online and for downloading in Adobe Acrobat format. It also has links to vendors who sell it. I could not find it on Amazon or via Froogle search. With some patient searching I did find it on Alibris and Abebooks. I found it listed in Find this book in a library
where entry of a postal code will get you a list of libraries that may have it in their holdings.
I have two old books, Volumes 1 & 2, The Complete Works of Robert Burns, with Life and Notes by Allan Cunningham
. Do these books have any value? If so, can you suggest a contact here in the USA?
A sense of the value of the book cited above may be gleaned from the national Library of Scotland's page on Robert Burns. That page has a chronological list of works by Robert Burns that have been illustrated up to 1923, giving a description of the images, the names of the book's illustrators, and bibliographical details. Click on a link for brief information about the illustrators. Try also:
Byblos, a trader in antique books; and,
Project Gutenberg which has put the entire text online where one may download the text free.
I have a book, printed in 1800s, John Knox Holy Bible 1
, and I would like to know if you have any information on this bible, that would be helpful to me in understanding its history.
I encourage you to check with a dealer in antique books. Meantime, you might want to search the Web with Google. Use the search string
John Knox Holy Bible 1800
and you will learn a little about the kind of book you have.
I live in [Scottish town]. I live very near what is reputed to be an old religious site. The local population believe it was destroyed during the Reformation but my own opinion is that it was abandoned. I have tried the local archaeologist and he's given me a printout of what little is known. Can you help? Would the Vatican know anything these days?
Regrettably the closest I could get on-line to the object of your search was by browsing The Catholic Encyclopedia at http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/. Perhaps the Highland Council Archaeology Service might be able to help. They can be reached via their web site at http://www.highland.gov.uk/yourenvironment/conservation/archaeology where you will find their contacts, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses.
Perhaps the following may also be useful:
I am planning a trip to Scotland and am interested in visiting significant sites of reformation history. I plan to visit the Edinburgh sites of St. Giles, John Knox house, Edinburgh Castle, Martyr's Square and Greyfriars Church, as well as St. Andrews and Dunnottar Castles. Are there other sites that might interest me such as other houses of reformers or places of significance?
That is a pretty wide-ranging question. Perhaps any articles on Scotland's history and the Reformation in major encyclopedias may lead you to some specific information. I am now reading Fair Sunshine by Jock Purvis and gaining insight into the lives and martyrdom of a dozen Covenanters (years later than the Reformation). The book is rich with local place references, etc. The point being that it would take some reading to get at what you want - which seems to be in-depth knowledge.
However, here are some possibilities on-line that may yield more information:
I just visited the John Knox House Museum. Please translate for me what is written above the door as you enter the house on High Street off the Royal Mile. I cannot seem to translate the words from my pictures and lost what our guide told us it was.
Regrettably, I have no photographs of the inscription you mention. I conducted a Google search http://www.google.com and looked at the variety of sketches and photographs without success. Might I suggest this? You can contact the museum at the John Knox house at the following address and telephone number: 43-45 High St., Edinburgh. Phone: 0131/556-9579. (Open: Mon-Sat 9:45am-4:30pm.)
I visited the John Knox Museum where I saw displayed a flag called the Blue Blanket
. I was rushed through too quickly to remember what I read there and would like more information. Can you please provide sources for information or information on this artifact?
The Capital Scot was not aware that it is in the John Knox Museum. Some older resources place it in St. Giles.
Please see the resource Reformation Scotland -- St. Giles Cathedral where you will find a brief mention that: In 1467 a Papal Bull designated St. Giles' as a Collegiate Church. The enlarging and enriching of the church continued. Various guilds, such as the masons and Hammermen (metalworkers) built and dedicated chapels. The Hammermen hung 'the Blue Blanket' in their chapel. It was an old flag carried in the Holy Land by Scots Crusaders, and later said to have been carried at Flodden. The Guilds took it from St. Giles' at the Reformation and keep it still.
Also see MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS (1542-1587) where there is mention that: Queen Mary was confined in a small room in the Provost's house. The mob outside continued to call for her death. Fearing for her life, the nobles moved her to Holyrood by using the 'blue blanket', the fighting flag of the crafts community of Edinburgh to shield her from the mob. Still the danger was so great that she was moved once again to Loch Leven.
The Capital Scot was surprised to find a very informative article The Blue Blanket which gives an extensive history of it including: The 'Blue Blanket' is a Scottish Craft banner of great antiquity about which several books and articles have been written. Most, if not all, of those histories (including my own lodge history) contain many inaccuracies due to the fact that the main reference used has been Alexander Pennecuik's history of 'The Blue Blanket'. Unfortunately, several Masonic encyclopedias have also used this as a source for reference.
(Also at The Masonic Trowel.)
Another link: The Scotsman (Wed 10 Jul 2002) Ancient symbol of city revealed: It was the ancient symbol of Edinburgh, and was raised whenever the city's tradesmen were called upon to defend the king. According to legend, the Blue Blanket banner was first flown from the walls of Jerusalem by Edinburgh crusaders in the 12th century.
The article also discusses who has the real one.
The Capital Scot looked for a picture but could not find one (just the depiction in the Scotsman article).
There is an oblique reference to the banner in the article at Edinburgh, Picturesque Notes, by Robert Louis Stevenson, 1879: And the story of the town is as eccentric as its appearance. For centuries it was a capital thatched with heather, and more than once, in the evil days of English invasion, it has gone up in flame to heaven, a beacon to ships at sea. It was the jousting-ground of jealous nobles, not only on Greenside, or by the King's Stables, where set tournaments were fought to the sound of trumpets and under the authority of the royal presence, but in every alley where there was room to cross swords, and in the main street, where popular tumult under the Blue Blanket alternated with the brawls of outlandish clansmen and retainers.
I am looking for referrals to companies who do tours of Scotland with an emphasis on our Scottish Presbyterian heritage. Can you direct me to some safe, reliable and established companies who can help me in this pursuit?
I recommend a search engine (e.g., "Google") search on the terms "travel" and "Scotland" and then contacting the most promising ones. I have not encountered a travel agency that advertises specifically about the religious heritage. However, it has been my experience that we cannot visit any part of Scotland without learning of pre-Reformation and Reformation history.
If you have looked at The Capital Scot's sub-site on the Reformation in Scotland at http://thecapitalscot.com/reform/0refscot.html you have noticed that the simple act of behaving like a tourist around places like Edinburgh will take you back to that time in history. Also, I would imagine that, armed with a history of the Reformation in Scotland, one could effortlessly create a very interesting itinerary.
I am working on a research paper on music, and I read that John Knox did not believe in using musical instruments. Do you know if that is true, or do you know where I could find that information?
While I do not know Knox's view on using musical instruments, perhaps the following references may help
We are students at (a Scottish) university studying Primary Teaching. We are studying the History of Scotland for our elective and we wondered if you thought the Reformation would be an appropriate topic to teach primary 6 or 7 children or do you think it is perhaps a bit "above their level"?
The Capital Scot is not a trained pedagogue. If he were, he would still have to be sensitive to the differences in the schools in the US and the UK in order to answer your question well. My layman's views are that history should be taught in all grades, and that a citizenry with a good grasp of the past and how it relates to the present can make sound judgements about who they are and how they fit in their society. In that regard, perhaps no topic is above anybody's level if it is presented to meet their needs, interests, and abilities to learn.
Also, I am sure that the approach to teaching the Reformation in the UK would be different than a similar topic in the US. Here in the US, I'm afraid, we would try to separate (artificially) the politics, from the religion, from the sociology and teach the topic exclusively in one of those areas depending on the venue (i.e., private or publicly supported schools).
Your question seems to be one that pertains more to the needs assessment of your prospective students than to a single person's opinion. In that regard I would recommend that you discuss your topic with your educators there and perhaps review the applicability of the literature in your field - regardless of the topic you want to teach - relative to human needs at different levels of maturity, ability of people of different ages to comprehend, the ways people of different age groups learn, public expectations of education for their children, and the like.
I am trying to find where the National Covenant is kept, if indeed the original document exists. Could you tell me if it does and where it can be viewed?
The National Library of Scotland might be a good place to start. According to their page "Other important holdings are an 11th C. Jerome manuscript Bible, a 15th C. Gutenberg Bible, one of the first examples of printed text, and numerous documents including letters by Mary, Queen of Scots (1542-87), one of the copies of the National Covenant (1638) and the order which brought about the Massacre of Glencoe (1692)." You will also find more information by performing a google (http://www.google.com/) search on the following words: copy "National Covenant" scotland
I'm trying to find any information about Alexander Smellie and am having difficulty finding anything other than his Maxims. Can you recommend anywhere I can look to find a biography on him?
I regret that I have been unable to find a biography of Alexander Smellie. Banner Of Truth at http://www.banneroftruth.co.uk/, that publishes much of his work, advises that they do not know of a biography of him and are sorry they cannot be of assistance to us. Perhaps it would be worthwhile searching an encyclopedia in hardcopy. (I believe the Britannica may still be somewhat expensive on-line.)
Could you in simple terms please tell me what the Second Reformation is about? I saw this term in a chat room?
Regrettably, I am not sure I understand the question, especially not having heard or seen what you did. I do not know the context of what you saw or heard. Perhaps you could elaborate. The only reference I recall to a "Second Reformation" is from my childhood when I learned that the Roman Catholic Church believes it had a "Counterreformation" in the form of the various papal decrees and councils of the 16th and 17th centuries.
I am attempting to locate Scottish societies or clubs in the [name of any city in the U.S.] City area. Any assistance you could provide would be appreciated.
You might want to do a search on Google http://www.google.com or other search engines on the terms [name of any city in the U.S.] and Scottish. My first try returned several sites representing Scottish organizations. Also, try searching on pipe band. Pipe bands are the best source of information about Scottish groups in their areas.
Is there a society for women that is the equivalent of the Saint Andrew's Society?
Several imaginative search engine searches failed to find a Saint Andrew's Society that has women members. I know they exist. These societies are not under
any international or national umbrella. They are all independent. I know
from past acquaintances that some accept women and some do not. (In Scotland, I believe, they all have women members.) Some accept all qualifying applicants and some have a limit on the number of members.
Most of the societies in the larger eastern cities are men-only
(Philadelphia, NYC, Charleston, DC, Baltimore, Savannah). An exception in
this local area (DC) is the Saint Andrew's Society of the Eastern Shore in
Maryland (Mr. James Hamilton, Jr. President, Saint Andrew's Society of the
Eastern Shore, P.O. Box 1364, Easton, Maryland 21601).
I suggest that you may want to check on some of the societies listed at our
site -- http://www.saintandrewsociety.com/ -- that are not one of the aforementioned ones such as:
Is there a book printed that gives the color setts, threads per inch and number of threads per color for Scottish Tartans for each clan? I am looking for one as I am a weaver and some people are asking me to weave these for them.
There are at least three sources for this:
Amazon has a book The Tartan Weaver's Guide: 142 tartans illustrated in full colour with historical notes, 228 thread counts and guidance on weaving tartan (Unknown Binding) by James Desmond Scarlett with limited availability.
Tartan Generator software: Tartan can initially appear complex in design but is based on a simple concept - a pattern of stripes which repeats in both a vertical and horizontal direction - in weaving terms the 'warp' and the 'weft'. A sequence of stripes (the sett) starting at one edge is repeated but in reverse order round a 'pivot' point. The sett reverses again and repeats round a second pivot point ... This process continues for the width of the material in question. The same sett and mirroring sequence occurs in the weft ... continuing for the entire length of the material. The resulting combination of warp and weft is the tartan ... (Note that the pivots themselves are not doubled in the mirroring process).
House of Tartan Design Your Own Tartan: Welcome to the Interactive Tartan Weaver. This unique site gives you the chance to design your own Tartan. You may just wish to play and produce your own Tartan images. Perhaps for inclusion on your own web site.
Tartan Design Studio provides a bit of interactive fun for young and old alike. Skilled tartan designing requires a combination of artistic flair, some knowledge of textile design and an awareness of tartan and clan history. If you get bitten by the design bug then you should have a look at our ITI Professional software supplied on two CDs.
Tartans in Scotland is a Tartan Finder
that allows the reader to search for tartans by letter. The site provides some history of the tartan, and it links back to a Scotland Travel Guide. The Capital Scot provides a link to this commercial site because of the wealth of factual information about Scotland and Scottish heritage that it contains.
My mother told me that the lineage in a Scottish family ran from the mother and that you wore your mother's tartan. Is this correct?
What tartan should a person wear? There seem to be many right
answers:
The one that has the patterns and colors that appeal to you.
The one that is associated with your father's clan.
The one that is associated with your mother's ancestry.
If there is no family clan name, then the one that is associated with the district in which your ancestors (mother's and father's) lived.
The book So You're Going to Wear the Kilt has good advice.
I personally wear both MacGregor (father's family) and McLean (paternal grandmother's family).
See also A Guide to the Purchase and Wearing of the Kilt and Other Highland Dress
What is the tartan for the [Scottish family or clan name] clan?
Please see the following Web sites where you may get some help on identifying a [Scottish family or clan name] tartan. However, be prepared for differences in color and sett.Search for the name:
The International Tartan Index - Tartan Ferret (Scottish Tartans Authority)
The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs Tartan Finder
The Find a Tartan
There are others:
Clan/Family Histories
Kiltie Collars
The House of Tartan
The Scottish Connection Tartan Browser
I am in an HR department for a company. We have an employee who has informed us that he is going to start wearing a kilt to work. We were recently acquired by a larger company and they are not as lenient on their rules. Can you tell me a bit about when it is culturally appropriate to wear a kilt? Or, if there are any laws stating we can allow this or we can't?
I am no expert, and I suspect that company rules are what they are. However I can tell you what I know and have seen.
The kilt is not a costume
. It is ethnic attire. As such, I believe that employers have to address the kilt much the same as they address turbans, head scarves, saris, etc. and make up their minds about what to allow and what not. On the other hand, there is honoring the policy in the breach. For example, an employer may have a strict ban on jeans and t-shirts, and the employees may wear them all the time without retribution. The market for an industry may value personnel retention rather than enforcement of rules that might cause employees to depart.
An acquaintance of The Capital Scot works for a Government activity. He has not worn trousers since he graduated from college - to work, to mow the lawn, to travel overseas, etc. Another acquaintance used to keep several kilts in the office and change them for different business (not Scottish related) occasions. I have seen Senator Warner and several other Senators of Scottish descent, in celebration of Tartan Day, leave the floor of the Senate - in session - wearing the kilt with day jacket and tie.
There have been cases of youngsters wearing the kilt and crossing the school authorities. In the instances I have read about over the years the schools lost. There is an example of this here and another here. One school case was a sensation not long ago making nationwide news.
I do not have many online references for examples of employers. In a British case Cabbies May Sue For Right to Wear Kilts
the cabbies may have won. However, a search of the ACLU site on the terms attire
and attire kilt
yields some instances that could also be applied to ethnic dress and the kilt.
That's the best I can do. I hope it gives you some leads. (OBTW - The Capital Scot is not an ACLU fan.)
Can you put me in touch with someone who may have a recipe for stapag? I had it once in a small place on Skye and still remember how tasty it was The cook would not part with the recipe, and I have not been successful in reproducing it.
Please see Scottish Cooking.
Know of a place where one can buy Irn Bru in the District of Columbia or Northern Virginia? Seems to be conveniently missing!
I have seen it for sale from time to time at The Scottish Merchant
215 King Street Alexandria, VA 22314, Phone: 703-739-2302. Also, a reader advised that it can be purchased online at Irn Bru USA.
Where do I go for a whisky tasting?
I suggest Rebecca Aronson, who has been the prime mover for the whiskey tasting society. She lives in Shepherdstown, WV, last known Tel: 304-876-3970.
Where can I buy haggis in the District of Columbia or Northern Virginia?
My standard reply is not sensitive to any possible current import restrictions, but it is the only answer I have. Here goes! I have heard of other butchers in the area occasionally making haggis but have no experience with them. You may want to ask one of the clerks who handles Scottish merchandise at The Scottish Merchant
mentioned elsewhere in this FAQ. I have seen canned haggis there. Phone: 703-739-2302. Ask for Carter.
Where can I get Lorne sousages in the DC area?
Please visit the The Scottish Merchant
.
Where can I get bridies and sausage rolls in the DC area?
I agree that you can perform Google searches without success for US merchants. The only suggestion I could have made went out of business on 2/25/07. You might inquire at The Scottish Merchant
mentioned elsewhere in this FAQ. Phone: 703-739-2302. Ask for Carter.
Is there a kiltmaker in the Washington, DC metropolitan area?
Not in the immediate area, but try Highland Heritage LTD, 1601 Concord Pike, Suite 69, Independence Mall, Wilmington, Delaware 19803 - Tel: 302-656-4007. The person to talk to is Margaret McConnell.
An alternative may be to inquire at "The Scottish Merchant" mentioned elsewhere in this FAQ.
After reviewing a number of websites I can find none that offers a simple list of [Scottish] shops in this area. Do you have any info? Also, where can I get Highland clothing and tartan products in this area?
In the Washington, DC metropolitan area you could try the following:
The Scottish Merchant
at 215 King Street, near the market square, in Old Town Alexandria, VA.
Annilori's Celtic House
617 Zachary Taylor Highway (US 522), Flint Hill, VA 22627 located in Flint Hill, VA about a little over an hour outside of the DC area in the Shenandoah valley area (West of Warrenton, South of Front Royal). E-Mail
or call: 1-540-675-3177.
The Scoti in Warrenton, VA sells scottish merchandise.
Where can I rent a kilt in the Washington, DC area?
At "The Scottish Merchant" mentioned elsewhere in this FAQ. E-mail Lorri Robertson at or Mike Robertson at .
Being a true Scot, and frugal, would you know of a web site or store that might have used kilts and Prince Charlies?
I have not come across used items in the on-line vendors with which I am acquainted. Perhaps an extensive search engine search and e-mail might help. Perhaps you might also a post your request to a newsgroup. A Google http://www.google.com/ search yielded numerous "hits" of people wanting to buy and sell kilts.
An alternative may be to rent a Highland outfit at The Scottish Merchant
mentioned elsewhere in this FAQ.
Where can I get the fabric for the [Scottish clan] tartan?
Please see the links in the article A Guide to the Purchase and Wearing of the Kilt and Other Highland Dress
. You may want to contact one of those merchants about the tartan you are looking for.
Where can I find a Minister's
Tartan stole suitable for wear at a Christian worship service ?
From your Web site it looks as if you are in Tennessee. In the Washington, DC metropolitan area, the best contact would be The Scottish Merchant. Ask for Doris. Mr. Thad Osborne (Tennessee) who has served as the chaplain for the American Clan Gregor Society advises as follows: Almy's (large US clergy outfitter) catalogue does not offer a tartan stole. It is quite possible that the one you saw previously had been individually made. The garment I have used as chaplain for the American Clan Gregor Society is Almy's basic black tippet, with squares of McGregor tartan added at both ends, and an embroidered McGregor crest on the left side. Tartan material may be had from the Scottish Tartans Museum in Franklin, North Carolina, from which an entire stole could be made. Please ask for Mr. Matthew Newsome.
I am a visitor from overseas. Where can I find bagpipe accessories in this area?
You might find some items at "The Scottish Merchant" mentioned elsewhere in this FAQ. You may also try one of the following: Pipe Major Gregory C. O'Brien; Pipe Major Matt Kuldell; and, Piper Ian Lawther (also travelingpiper).
Where can I get reasonably priced [clan name] tartan ribbon?
A Google search on <tartan ribbon [clan name]> yields numerous links to vendors selling by the roll or by the yard. One tht caught my eye is The Tartan Ribbon Company, and it seems to be reasonabily priced. Their 5/8" is $1.45 per yard, $31.90 per 22 yard roll. I did not ask about their S&H. Try toll free 877-737-5458 or e-mail Colleen@TartanRibbon.com>.
Where can I tartans, tartan ribbon, and accessories in the Washington, DC area?
You might find some items at "The Scottish Merchant" mentioned elsewhere in this FAQ. You may also try Anilori's Celtic House in Flint Hill, VA.
Who was Peter Marshall?
Rev. Dr. Peter Marshall was born and raised in Scotland. He emigrated to the United States, studied for the ministry, and became pastor of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, DC. He served as the Chaplain of the Senate. It was he who initiated the Kirkin' o' the Tartan service in this country. He also served as the president of the Saint Andrew's Society of Washington, DC from 1944-48.
Rev. Dr. Marshall's widow, Catherine, wrote his biography after his death. It is titled A Man Called Peter. Hollywood also made a movie by the same title. Both can be reached via http://www.amazon.com/.
Rev. Dr. Marshall's son may be reached at: Rev. Peter Marshall, Peter Marshall Ministries, 81 Finlay Road, Orleans, Massachusetts 02653, and at Rev. Peter Marshall, Peter Marshall Ministries http://www.restoringamerica.com/
What is the "Kirkin' o' the Tartan"?
The Kirkin' o' The Tartan has its origins in the eighteenth century. After Scottish patriots were defeated at the battle of Culloden in 1745, the British Parliament passed the Parliamentary Act of 1746 which banned the kilt and every other tartan garment in an effort to destroy Highland Clan identity. Not easily deterred defiant Scots secretly carried remnants of their tartans to church. The ministers would then add a blessing into the service for the tartans and the clans they represented.
In Washington, DC, This service has been held in the National Cathedral for many years. However, the annual service began a decade earlier. In 1941, as the war in Europe was escalating, former Saint Andrew's Society President Dr. Peter Marshall, who served as the Chaplain of the Senate, initiated the Kirkin' o' the Tartan in this country. For the first nine years the service was held at Dr. Marshall's New York Avenue Presbyterian Church. The service in was moved in 1950 and later years to other Presbyterian Churches in Washington and in 1954 to the Cathedral where the service has been held ever since. In recent years other St. Andrew's Societies and various Scottish organizations throughout this country celebrate their Scottish heritage by conducting Kirkin' o the Tartan services in their local areas.
See Kirkin' o' the Tartan Service for a model service that can be used.
Can you tell me what was the capital city of Scotland before it was Edinburgh?
Now that's one I hadn't thought of before. My initial reaction was Scone because the ancient kings were crowned there. A second reaction was that each king had his own castle and court. Perhaps Edinburgh was the real first capital of an internationally recognized entity known as Scotland.
I notice that even the http://www.siliconglen.com/scotfaq/scottish-faq.txt and http://www.britannia.com/celtic/scotland/history_scotland.html do not have any remarks about the history of Scotland's capital. I plan to take this on and use the results for a future update.
It is interesting that several localities advertise themselves on-line as Scotland's ancient capital: Dunfermline, Dunkeld (religioous capital), Stirling, and perth. Just search on ghe term "Scotland's ancient capital" and you will be overwhelmed!
Thanks for the poser.
How do I find out historical facts about Edinburgh Castle? Specifically: when, where, why, and by whom it was first built; important people who lived there; important events that happened there.
Recommend trying a Google http://www.google.com search on the term "Edinburgh Castle" to receive links to more information than you probably hoped for. Suggest the following links as a start:
How far above sea level is Edinburgh Castle?
Some detailed information on the Web about the physical characteristics of the castle are at the following sites:
I am doing my research paper on the Edinburgh Vaults and am having a lot of trouble finding accurate information. If possible could you send me information or web addresses relating to the vaults
Please see the article on the Edinburgh Vaults on this site and pictures at Halloween. A Google
search will return the foregoing references as well as others.
Please send me some information and leaflets about the Edinburgh Vaults.
The article, Edinburgh Vaults, refers to Mercat Tours for information on their Vault tour. I am sure they may be able to help you. Also, there are some pictures and more information at the following sites:
Ghost of a Flea:
There are no written records of who lived in these vaults, although there is ample anecdotal evidence that thousands of people lived and died here, some probably never even seeing the outside world ... The chances are that few of the people who lived in the Georgian part of the city above knew they were there.
How do I arrange to spend the night in the Edinburgh Vaults?
On the page Edinburgh Vaults there is a note Details of the Mercat Tours with times and rates can be found at their web site.
Please see their web site and their enquiry page. Their e-mail address is info@mercattours.com. They can surely help you with your plans. See also other tour links at the bottom of the Edinburgh Vaults page
Where do I find a family tree for Mary, Queen of Scots?
Please see the Genealogy.com resource where you can view Mary Queen of Scots's family tree. You do not need any special software to instantly view this tree.
How many years did Mary, Queen of Scots live in the palace of Holyrood House?
In her adult life, Queen Mary lived at the Palace of Holyrood House from 1561 after her return to Scotland until 1568 when she travelled to England. Please see:
Good English
history: Mary, Queen of Scots, Biography
Mary Queen of Scots
BBC History: Mary, Queen of Scots
I am desperate to find a copy of the movie: Mary Queen of Scots with Vanessa Redgrave and Glenda Jackson. I would like for my students to see the movie so that they can learn something about Scotland (even if it is the Hollywood version).
The first thought that comes to mind is to visit Amazon.com. Mary, Queen of Scots (1971), Starring: Vanessa Redgrave, Glenda Jackson, Director: Charles Jarrott, Format: Color, Rated: PG-13, Studio: Universal Studios, Video Release Date: April 18, 2000. It's the first hit from a google search on <Mary Queen Scots Vanessa Redgrave
Glenda Jackson
>.
I found the prayer for Mary Queen of Scots on your web site but I'm confused as I found it on another web site and it is attributed to Mary Stewart, Colorado 1904. Can you shed any light on this?
(This question pertains to the article "Queen Mary's Prayer" found at http://thecapitalscot.com/pastfeatures/qmprayer.html. The reader's question cites the following article Food for Thought by a Mary Stewart of Colorado in 1904. If any reader can shed light on this mystery, please .)
That's fascinating! I posted the prayer attributable to Mary Queen of Scots based on a source I received as a child. The date of the source is later than the 1904 date on the page you referred to. I shall think about how to make this information available in an interesting way on The Capital Scot. I had not been aware of the author, Mary Stewart, who is represented on the page you cite. Do you have knowledge of her background? Is it possible the prayer was misattributed to her?
See this site's page Mary, Queen of Scots for more information about this topic.
I'm trying to find out some information on the Mary Queen of Scots ring that she gave to her servants. The ring that I'm looking for is just an oil painting on a ring there is now stones around it. She is about 29 to 30 years old on the ring.
An article, Jewellery in the Reign of Mary, Queen of Scots
, apparently no longer on the Web, gave this information:
"Alongside such small book covers which would have hung at the waist, fashion also started to include miniature portraits or cameos to be worn on a chain at the waist, often as a secret present from an admirer. Hilliard painted such a portrait of both Elizabeth I and also of Mary during her captivity. Cameo portraits became very popular items.
"The mid-sixteenth century saw jewellery becoming more elaborate and jewels were placed everywhere possible. Stones were sewn onto clothing, collars were jewelled as were head dresses, fans were jewelled and rings were worn on every finger. Mary herself was reputedly fond of her long, elegant fingers and as such had a fondness for rings, she was married to Darnley with three rings, one containing a huge diamond.
"She also seems to have admired rubies as they also feature prominently in her inventory, particularly amongst her rings.
"When Mary was attempting to make peace with Elizabeth I and obtain a meeting she sent Elizabeth a diamond ring in the shape of a heart, alongside other gifts and even some of her own poetry.
"A gold signet ring with an oval bezel (the setting used to hold the stone) which contains a crystal engraved with the arms of Mary, Queen of Scots. It was made between the period 1548 and 1558 and as such is probably French. The ring can now be found in the British museum, London.
"The Darnley Ring: This was the betrothal ring given by Mary to Henry, Lord Darnley in 1565. It is made out of gold and is inscribed with the entwined letters H and M tied together with two lovers knots. On the inside is the inscription which reads 'Henry L. Darnley 1565' below a crowned shield and a lion rampant. The ring was supposedly found at Fotheringay Castle after the execution of Mary in 1587.
"The Lennox Jewel: This was supposedly made to the order of Margaret Douglas in memory of her husband who was killed in 1571. The clasped hands a two hearts which are knotted together are symbols of love but there are also other allegorical messages included. The figures of Faith, Hope, and Charity are shown alongside images of the sun, moon and a pelican. The meaning of such images is unclear and it demonstrates the highly personal nature of jewellery. ... However, Antonia Frazer is not convinced that, due to its style, that the ring dates from as late as 1571, and also points out that the ring contains no commemorative details as one would expect of such a piece. Margaret Lennox had taken advantage of the return of Melville to Scotland to send jewels to her husband in 1564 and she may have created a coded emblem for the ring to convey a secret message too dangerous to commit to paper. This would go some way to explaining the highly personal symbols of the ring but as they were so personal, it is unlikely that the mystery will ever be solved."
... Alongside such small book covers which would have hung at the waist, fashion also started to include miniature portraits or cameos to be worn on a chain at the waist, often as a secret present from an admirer. Hilliard painted such a portrait of both Elizabeth I and also of Mary during her captivity. Cameo portraits became very popular items.
These sites are no more revealing (Find
the word ring
on each page.):
"http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/Bios/MaryStuart.htm
"http://www.marileecody.com/maryqosimages.html
"http://www.rampantscotland.com/features/mythology.htm
Should you learn more about your topic, please share it with the readers of The Capital Scot.
I am looking for Scottish organizations to join in the Washington, DC area.
Please see Scottish Heritage Organizations & Web Sites - Washington, DC - Virginia - Maryland - West Virginia.
I am trying to research the authority structure of the Clans in modern day as well as prior to 1745. Were there other officers and officials below the Clan Chief? If so, what were their titles and function? Are there any publications that can give me this information? I have searched on the internet for resources and there seem not to be any.
The Capital Scot is not aware of a single work that addresses the clan structure, etc. Some knowledge may be gleaned from reading a variety of sources both - historical and fictional (i.e., Nigel Tranter novels). You may want to dig through some of the sources mentioned on the Scottish Clans & Societies page on The Capital Scot http://thecapitalscot.com/clans.html:
Also, try the FAQ for soc.culture.scottish entry for history, a search of your public library index for Scottish clans, encyclopedia entries, and a book vendor search (e.g., for scotland clans) (such as http://www.amazon.com).
Could you please e-mail me a picture of the coat of arms for my clan?
The intent of this question seems to be to find a clan crest. There is no such thing as a coat of arms for a clan. Arms belong to individuals. Hence, our chiefs have coats of arms. Recommend that you perform search engine searches of the web. You might try the following:
Is there any software with Scottish Clan Badges?
For clan badges and tartans might I suggest the sites that are listed on the Clans and Societies page (http://thecapitalscot.com/clans.html) of The Capital Scot, or use the search engines listed at The Capital Scot's search engine page (http://thecapitalscot.com/srcheng.html. (I performed a search on http://www.google.com/ using the terms "scottish clan badges" and received numerous links. Also, there's a great list of badges, with pictures, starting on Joanne's Collection of Scottish Badges at http://www.onlinepub.net/scott/scothome.html. Try also the following:
Is there a clan Barrie
? If not, to which Scottish clan does Sir James belong?
The writer refers to Sir James Matthew Barrie, the Scottish author and playwrite. A member of the ANON: the J. M. Barrie Society's List has investigated Barrie in this regard and has yet to find a proper association of Barrie to any particular clan. That is odd, given that both his parents were weavers, a main industry in Kirriemuir at the time. So many weavers had Scottish clan names. The closest one is able to come is Clan Fergusson which is predominant in the Kirriemuir area.
The Capital Scot questions this last statement and believes that the prevalent names in the Kirriemuir area during the 18th and 19th centuries were Duke, Irvine, MacGregor, and Ogilvie - not to mention the prominent Lyell family (Kinnordy Estate. See also Scottish Surnames - Lyell. The name Wilkie (Wilkie's Factory) was also a prominent one. See Wilkie's.
Another ANON List participant wrote: cannot agree that Ferguson was the clan predominant in Kirriemuir. May I suggest that anyone interested in pursuing this issue should see this clan map. This map shows that the clans in Angus Shire around Kirriemuir were: Ogilvie, Lindsay, and Duncan. It also shows that the Ferguson clan were in Kirkcudbricht and Wigtown counties, about 150 miles away in the extreme south-west of Scotland. If it is ever shown that the Barries do have claim to a clan, I venture to suggest that the most likely clan would be that of Baird. Here is my reasoning: I have looked at the distribution of the name Barrie in the 1881 census and this showed that, of the 2,165 Barries living in Great Britain at that time, 35% lived in Lanarkshire. Next came Angus with 18%, and Midlothian with 8%. It is fairly safe to conclude from this that the Barries probably originated in Lanarkshire (unless there was more than
one origin for the family name). The clans map shows that Lanarkshire
was exclusively of the Baird clan. Lanarkshire includes the city of
Glasgow, and I think it is pretty likely that the Barries originated in
Glasgow, or somewhere else in Lanarkshire.
I would like to have the contact information for the Bruce Clan in Scotland. I have tried to find this information on the internet, but I cannot find contact information for the Bruce Clan in Scotland.
The Bruces do not use the term clan
but rather family
. Please see Bruce International where you may contact their secretary to enquire about a contact in Scotland. According to the Web site the Secretary is Polly Bruce Tilford. An alternative, but perhaps less useful, path would be to look up the names of the Chief, etc. and try to go from there.
Are there any rules or regulations on wearing a kilt?
Anyone may wear the kilt although it is uncertain why one would want to unless he/she were of Scottish descent or as a uniform for a group requiring a kilt such as a pipe band or Scottish dancing group. The best information on how to wear the kilt may be found in the book So you're going to wear the kilt by J. Charles Thompson. Try a local vendor. I do not know if you. If you are local to the Washington, DC metropolitan area, try "The Scottish Merchant" mentioned elsewhere in this FAQ. Some on-line vendors have the book way overpriced. Also, you might want to check out the following Web sites for some sources for the book:
Scottish Lion
House of Tartan
Kilts and More.
I shall wear a kilt to a garden party. I was advised that the dress code would normally be sports jacket and pants in business casual atmosphere. Can you advise what the appropriate dress code would be? (i.e., Jacket, no jacket? tie, no tie, regular shirt Jacobite?) I'm confused as it is casual yet business.
Off-hand it sounds as if the equivalent of sports jacket and pants would be a day jacket with kilt. If sports jacket and pants
usually means, to your group, with a dress shirt and tie, then a tie would be appropriate. Please see A Guide to the Purchase and Wearing of the Kilt and Other Highland Dress.
Please help me find the web sites I need in order to register for the highland games in this area this year.
Per a note from Mr. Dave McKenzie at Mid-Atlantic Scottish Athletics (M.A.S.A.):
"To sanction or organize a Scottish athletic event -- M.A.S.A. was founded in 1999 by Heavy Events Athletes and Judges in the Mid-Atlantic region of the eastern United States to organize and promote the Heavy Events. M.A.S.A. is now the official sanctioning organization of the majority of the Heavy Events competitions held in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Kentucky. If you or your organization would like to find out about having a M.A.S.A. sanctioned Heavy Athletics competition please use the contact link on the M.A.S.A. page.
"Ms. Alex Murray, our 'Administrative' Judge, and Mr. Dave McKenzie have the high honor and pleasure of overseeing this operation and finding places for these wonderful young men and women to gather and practice their vary unique sport during the season. We have a field staff of Judges ready to go to venues within our territory and run an athletic competition for your event. The web site has complete information on rules, sanctioning, etc. If you do not already have sanctioned/recognized athletics at your event, upon request, we will put together a proposal for your event.
"From an operational standpoint, for your interest, about four weeks (adjustable) prior to your game taking place, MASA, at my direction, will open registration for your specific game. If you desire, we can automatically notify you directly as the athletes register. Once you and I have approved the final list, it will be made public on the internet as to who is competing at your game.
"Why only four weeks advance? Because in our highly flexible society, with family and employment demands changing almost daily in athletes lives, we want a solid list of athletes that will be able to show up and compete. There are internal rules about cancellations by athletes, no shows, and other things which I won't bother you with. All designed to make sure that your games runs smoothly from an athletic standpoint."
"What are the Heavy Events? Scots have tested their strength against each other at Highland gatherings for centuries. King Malcolm Canmore, who began his reign in 1057, is credited with initiating crude forms of today's Scottish Highland Games athletic competition as a means of improving the abilities of his military. While the games had become festive occasions by the sixteenth century, they were still seen as a way for kings and chiefs to choose the best men for their retinues.
"To register for participation in a Scottish athletic event -- The Athletes now have the ability to create biographical pages on themselves and update them at any time during the season. They share a common message board where they can exchange ideas on technique, training, and just talk to each other. The message board is maintained and monitored by Mr. Dave McClelland in Charlotte, NC, another long time, highly dedicated, volunteer athlete.
"Our Training Director, Mr. Bryan McClain, helps others get started in the sport and hooks the athletes up with each other by geographical areas for the purpose of training."
Also, suggest you check out the Events page of The Capital Scot - http://thecapitalscot.com/events.html from time to time. The first game of the season in this area is in late April. It is the Southern Maryland Celtic Festival and Highland Gathering at St. Leonard, MD (Southern Maryland). Contact 410-257-9003. At the height of the games and festivals season, The Capital Scot tries to keep the page updated weekly with additional events as they become known including the annual Virginia Scottish Games in Alexandria - http://www.vascottishgames.org/. On the Events page try also the links listed under Events outside the Washington, DC Area.
2005 MASA events and their points of contact may be found at events2005MASA.pdf [PDF] (URL links work in PDF file.) or events2005MASA.xls [XLS].
Where can I find information pertaining to the dress codes for women in Highland Dancing? According to "lore", women at one time weren't allowed to perform highland dances or wear the kilt. Instead they wore the aboyne costumes and danced national dances. I was wondering how and when these changes came about.
I recommend you contact one or more of the Scottish dancing groups who may be able to provide you with information relative to the history of proper dress for Scottish dancers. Perhaps you might start with Scottish Country Dancing in the DC Area ar http://rscds-greaterdc.org/. That site encourages questions to be directed to mail@briscoe.com.
You might also want to try a search at http://www.google.com/ using the following search terms: "scottish" and "dancing". I tried that and received numerous links to dance sites with contacts that you might follow.
I would very much like to learn Scottish dancing. I am aware of a local Irish dance school, but I am hoping that you might have some leads on a Scottish one, or perhaps an instructor. Alas, the (Washington Metopolitan Area) Yellow Pages are of no help.
The Capital Scot's events page at http://thecapitalscot.com/events.html has links to the following organization: Scottish Country Dancing at http://rscds-greaterdc.org/. Their contacts page at http://rscds-greaterdc.org/contacts.html leads to the following information: Sheryl Griffith, 301-513-5698, griffits@ba.ars.usda.gov - Wash., DC contact; Jeff McLean, 703-533-0032, Jeffrey@clanMcLean.org - Northern VA contact; Mark Priest, 703-750-2965, mpriest@3eti.com - Northern VA contact; and, Yvonne Yang, 703-750-2965, Yvonne.Yang@oracle.com - Northern VA contact.
Perhaps they may know of other Scottish Dance activities in Maryland.
Also, a "Google" http://www.google.com/ search on the terms - "scottish dance" maryland - yields many "hits" indicating Scottish Dance activities in Maryland.
For Scottish Country Dance (SCD) in North America see The Inter-City Scot Online .
In the Scottish song what does auld lang syne
mean?
Auld Lang Syne (The World's National Anthem
) is a song of remembrance of friends past and present. The title Auld Lang Syne
literally means old long ago
. A better translation would be times gone by
. A modern English translation of the song (which may lose some of the passion for some readers) may be found at the end of a most informative page Critical Analysis - Auld Lang Syne. That page has an expository of the song including its history and melodies (that you can play on-line) to which it has been sung.
Is there a Scottish song called I'm 94 today
, and if so, where can I get the ltyrics for this song?
Thanks for the interesting question. I'm 94 This Morning
by Will Fyffe may be found on Francis & Day's album of Will Fyffe Songs. Of course, down in the village it will be a big surprise. The people think it's all a joke, that the minister's telling lies
A CD is offered for sale of an album of Will Fyffe songs.
What is (or was) the song of the Glasgow Boy Scouts at their camp at Auchengillan? I remember: Auchengillan, happy land. I'm going to work my ticket if I can.
The Capital Scot is a Wood Badger (Class NEIII48, US Forces in Germany 1977). Wood Badge is a training program for adult scout leaders. I learned the song the first day of training. you can hear the melody upon opening the link just cited for Wood Badge. The words are copied last below and may be found on the following Web sites:
- Baden-Powell, Gilwell and Scouting where you will find the history of Wood Badge, first camp at Gilwell, the song, etc.
- The Wood Badge patrol names are included in this version. That is how I learned it. Substitute Boy Scout
in the lyrics below with your patrol name. I was an antelope
- I used to be an Antelope, and a good old Antelope too ...
etc.
There are other sites with related information. Just Google search on the term wood badge gilwell song.
The Scouts at Auchengillan must have substituted Auchengillan
for the original Back to Gilwell
. Nice touch!
BACK TO GILWELL
I used to be a Boy Scout, and a good old Boy Scout too,
But now I've finished Boy Scouting, I don't know what to do.
I'm growing old and feeble, and I can Boy Scout no more,
So I'm going to work my ticket if I can.
Chorus
Back to Gilwell, happy land
I'm going to work my ticket if I can.
(A Wood Badge class repeated the chorus for the name of each of the patrols in the class - Antelope, etc.)
In the Scott poem The Lady of the Lake
what does Roderigh Vich Alpine Dhu Ho, Ieroe mean? Is it in the Scots language? I was not able to find it anywhere.
From responses that I have received about your question, it seems that the phrase Roderigh Vich Alpine Dhu Ho, Ieroe
probably is an artistic - and meaningless - flourish on the part of the writer to create atmosphere around the story. According to our local, fluent, Gaelic linguist, if the author intended reality, it could be a really poor attempt to transcribe 'Ruairidh Mhic Alpin Dhubh' (i.e., Roderick, Son of Black Alpin) in the vocative case). This would leave the 'Ha, Ieroe' as sounds of cheering or the like.
I also asked at the the Walter Scott Digital Archive but did not receive a reply.
Years ago I cut a little newsprint obituary from the Post. It was A Scottish Prayer
. Does anyone know the little poem I refer to?
The Capital Scot was unable to answer the question. The reader found the old clipping that contained two prayers and shared it. Please see Scottish Prayers of Farewell.
I heard a song called Highland Cathedral
played on the pipes at the Kirkin' o' the Tartan. Does this song have words with it, and do you know of any CDs that have it?
Please do a Google search on the term Highland Cathedral
and you will have more Highland Cathedral
than you can handle.
There is a land far from this distant shore
Where heather grows and Highland Eagles soar
There is a land that will live ever more
Deep in my heart, my Bonnie Scotland Highland Cathedral
Though I serve so far away
I still see your streams, cities and dreams
I can`t wait until the day
When I`ll come home once more Highland Cathedral
So Lord keep me from the harm of war
Through all the dangers and the battles roar
Keep me safe until I`m home once more
Home to my own in Bonnie Scotland Highland Cathedral
See Time for a new song for the origins of this song.
I am in search of a poem that was written about Dunnottar Castle. I was wondering if any one knew of the one I mean?
According to the BBC's history Web site's article Dunnottar Castle,
in their feature, Birth of a Nation:
During the Wars of Independence the castle was garrisoned by Edward I, King of England, after his crushing defeat of John Balliol, King of Scots. A year later, in 1297 AD, none other than William Wallace, laid siege to Dunnottar, burning down its wooden walls with an English garrison inside. The Scots makar, or poet, Blind Harry, wrote an chilling account of the struggle for the rock in his epic poem 'Wallace':
Therefore a fire was brought speedily,
Which burnt the church, and all those South'ron boys,
Out o'er the rock the rest rush'd great noise;
Some hung on craigs, and loath were to die.
Some lap, some fell, some flutter'd in the sea;
And perish'd all, not one remain'd alive.
(Extract of Blind Harry ÔWallace' c1470's)
According to the Encyclopedia Britannica: Harry the Minstrel "also called Henry The Minstrel, or Blind Harry, author of the Scottish historical romance The Acts and Deeds of the Illustrious and Valiant Champion Sir William Wallace, Knight of Elderslie, which is preserved in a manuscript dated 1488. He has been traditionally identified with the Blind Harry named among others in William Dunbar's 'The Lament for the Makaris' ('poets') and with a 'Blin Hary' who is listed from time to time as having received a few shillings from the royal bounty in the treasurer's accounts (1490Ð92). According to a contemporary historian, John Major, Harry was a wandering minstrel, blind from birth, who collected and recited legends about the Scottish hero Sir William Wallace. From his own account he was an unlearned man, but his own work, which shows his acquaintance with John Barbour's epic The Bruce, with Geoffrey Chaucer, and with Scots, Latin, and French chronicles, belies this.
"Wallace, which runs to 11 books and nearly 12,000 lines, is a historical novel in verse, fabricated from the events of the Scottish wars of independence, popular legend about Wallace, and earlier romances. Though Harry claims historicity for his work, he portrays Wallace on a superhuman scale, and many of the hero's astonishing feats actually take place long after the historical capture and execution of Wallace in 1305. Judged simply as a romance, Wallace is inferior to 'The Bruce' in arrangement and literary finish. But because of its patriotic fervour, it was immensely more popular among the Scots than The Bruce and remained so into the 19th century.".
A Google search on the following term <Dunnottar castle poem blind harry
> will provide links to more information.
I find very little about the myth regarding the song Flowers of the Forest
. I understood that there was a belief that those killed in battle would return as Flowers of the Forest
. Do you have any info on this?
I tried to find someone to help with this question. I did not succeed. I remember asking about the meaning of Flowers of the Forest
when I first became interested in Scottish Heritage. The answers I received were nebulous references to forest flowers being largely unnoticed in their living and passing. Let's hope that a reader will chime in on this.
I have a song about John Paul Jones and a friend said I should get it heard by related societies. Do you know whom I could approach?
Without knowing more about your song and what you have in mind, may I suggest searching google on the following term:
john paul jones
society association
You may pick up some leads from the sites that will be listed.
Do know of any books, magazine articles, etc. which address the legend that Pontius Pilate was a Scotsman?
This question comes up frequently. Rather than publish erroneous information I have confined myself to the information found at the FAQ. "There is a legend that Pontius Pilate was born in Fortingall, Perthshire...the son of a Roman and a local girl. There are a lot of acheological remains there, including a homestead which might have been Roman. If it's not true, then it ought to be. While up on business at Scottish Amicable near Stirling a few weeks ago, it was a gorgeous sunny day and having some spare time on my hands, I decided to take a quick detour to Callender to see the birthplace of Robert Burns. Anyway, while on that road from Stirling to Callender I stopped in a layby to look at an information board/map and happened to notice, that there was a historical point of interest that stated that the birth place of Pontius Pilate (Christ's Executioner at the prompting of the Jewish authorities for those not of a religious or historical bent) was allegedly somewhere in North/North East Scotland (North of Stirling and Perth). It did actually give a place but I forget exactly where and what it was called. Does anyone else know where this place 'supposedly' is and is there any truth to it?" A google search on the terms - "pontius pilate" scotland - yields remarkable, serendipitous results.
What is the legend of the king and stag with the cross between its antlers? Is there a picture depicting this and if so where?
In Scottish lore the MacKenzie clan has a second crest usually associated with Mackenzie of Seaforth. "A second Crest usually associated with the Clan is that of the Mackenzie of Seaforth. It shows a Stag's Antlers with the motto: CUIDICH' N' RIGH (Save the King). The legendary origin of this crest goes back to the 13th century. Kenneth of Kintail was in a royal hunting party. When a wounded stag charged the King, Kenneth shouted 'Cuiddiche an Righ' (Save the King) and shot the stag. As a result, the King awarded Kenneth the stag's head as his crest. A perhaps more historically accurate version is that the stag's head represented the tribute that Kenneth paid to the King each year. Whichever, the chief of the clan is known in Gaelic as 'Caberfeigh' or deer's antlers." That same Web site has an image of the crest.
According to legend, King David I was hunting in 1128 when his horse was startled by a stag. David was hurled to the ground, finding himself in danger of being gored by the stag's antlers. In desperation, the king grasped hold of the antlers, which miraculously changed into a crucifix. This event is commemorated by this symbol of the stag's head with a cross between its antlers in the gate of the Palace."
In German lore and according to http://www.wildlifequest.tv/stories.asp?ID=12 "St. Hubert, the Patron Saint of Hunters was born in the European city of Maastricht of French nationality. All the scholars agree Hubert died at Fura (the modern city of Tervueren) in the province of Brabant on May 30, 727 A.D. Hubert was reportedly a great lover of pleasure and his chief passion was the chase, to which he devoted nearly all his time. According to the legend, Hubert was afield the morning of Good Friday (while the faithful were crowding into church) and he was participating in the chase of a deer on horseback with his famous hounds.
"The Catholic Encyclopedia states: As he was pursuing a magnificent stag, and in a clearing in the forest, the animal stopped and turned. Hubert was astounded at perceiving a crucifix suspended between its antlers, while he heard a voice from the figure of Christ say, 'Hubert, unless you turn to the Lord, and lead a holy life, you shall quickly fall into the abyss of Hell! Hubert dismounted immediately from his horse, fell prostrate on the ground and asked, 'Lord, what would you have me do?' He immediately received the reply, 'Go and seek Lambert and he will instruct you.'" The Jaegermeister http://www.wildlifequest.tv/stories.asp?ID=12 brand has this image.
The British National gallery at http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/cgi-bin/WebObjects.dll/CollectionPublisher.woa/wa/work?workNumber=NG252 has a picture of the conversion of St. Hubert..
According to classical lore, Saint Eustachius was a "pagan Roman general in the army of the emperor Trajan. He converted to Christianity following a hunting trip during which he saw a glowing cross between the antlers of a stag, after which he received a prophecy that he would suffer for Christ. He was baptized with his wife and two sons, and given the name Eustachius. Denounced as a Christian, he lost his property, was reduced to abject poverty, and Roman authorities took his wife and children. However, being a capable general, he was recalled to duty by Trajan to help repel barbarians from Rome, which he did. He and his family were reunited with the expectation they would sacrifice to idols in thanks for a military victory. When they refused, an enraged Trajan ordered them thrown to the lions; the big cats played like kittens around them, so they were martyred together by being burned in a bronze bull. Eustachius is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers."
Are there any Scottish traditions or customs for moving into a house?
I do not believe there is an ancient history thing
. it seems to be a universal thing just as we would do in North America. However, one may want to research ancient Gael, Celt, Scot, and Pict superstitions. Google the term: housewarming scottish tradition custom. Look up Handsel Monday on the Chamber's Book of Days. There's not much else on the Web. You will find some odds and ends at the following sites:
Single life gives stores new chance to cash in in Scotland on Sunday
Clubbing into the Wee Small Hours in the Cubby Column
What makes Scottish Culture unique from Irish Culture?
There certainly are cultural differences between the Scots and the Irish. However, when viewed in historical perspective, those differences begin to look like similarities. Please see the resources at the following Web sites:
Who Are The Celts? A Brief History
Pan-Celticism
The Clan Irwin Association This Scottish Clan has existed for more than ten centuries and continues today; historic in its contribution to the nation of Scotland; central to the Scottish 'Plantation of Ireland'; and impressive in the importation of culture and strength to the American colonies by the Scots and the Scots-Irish. The line reaches back to the High Kings of Ulster (Ireland) and has come unbroken to this day.
Kilt Stuff
The only sensible definition of Scottishness is a cultural one. Today there are thousands of Scottish people whose ancestors were Irish, Asian or Italian, or even English, and these people have far more rights to Scottishness than those people whose modern cultures are English or American, but who happen to have Scottish ancestors.
Scots Language - Doric, Lallans, Ullans The Ullans Language is very close linguistically to English spoken by 'Ulster Scots', Scottish settlers who left Scotland and brought their native language Scots, also known as Lallans (which means 'Lowlands' in Scots) to Ulster, the north-eastern province of Ireland. 'Ullans' is short for 'Ulster Lallans'. Advocates of the Scots-Irish dialect in Ulster coined the phrase in 1993 as part of the process of trying to make the Scots-Irish dialect into a recognised language ... Well, the Ullans language itself isn't new. The Scottish first settled in Ireland in large numbers in the mid 17th century. They brought their own language with them, a tongue generally known as Scots but known to the Scottish as 'Lallans'. Ullans evolved out of Lallans over the three and a half centuries since that first settlement.
See also:
Irish Culture newsgroup
Scottish Culture newsgroup
How do I find a piper in the Washington, DC area?
Contact Mr. Gregory C. O'Brien at 703-356-4035. You may have to leave a message but he is very timely in returning calls. His e-mail is obrienabu@mindspring.com.
Please contact the Pipe Major of the St. Andrew's Society, Matt Kuldell at kuldells@mac.com. He will also undoubtedly know where to refer you for bagpipe lessons.
Contact Mr. Ian Lawther via his Web site at http://www.travelingpiper.com/ or e-mail to info@travelingpiper.com. Ian plays the highland pipes, Northumbrian and Scottish smallpipes, uilleann and border pipes, English concertina, whistles and flute.
Celtic Notes, Ltd., books various Scottish and Celtic entertainment groups. Contact Doris Swisshelm at hdplyr@msn.com or 703-660-9310.
Contact Potomac Talent for bagpipers, folk harpers, and similar talent. (They are a musician-owned entertainment company named best
wedding expert in music by Washingtonian magazine five years running.)
Dave McCrabb who owns the Scoti in Warrenton, VA has a Bagpipe Band and they play either as a group or individually at weddings etc.
I was wondering if you could supply me a list of Scottish television stations as I am thinking of moving to Scotland where my roots are. I have alot of television experience and am looking for work there.
The only radio and television stations' sites, as I am sure you have noticed, that I list on my Web site are at http://thecapitalscot.com/scotvariety/generalradiotv.html. Also recommend a search engine search on the terms "television" "tv" and "scotland". Alternatively, you may want to contact: a) BBC Scotland Online at