tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278356786329973174.post8030490785021600228..comments2024-03-27T09:58:35.443-07:00Comments on Reading and Writing: Mayday in ScotlandUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278356786329973174.post-52240532354317978982016-05-06T05:21:56.736-07:002016-05-06T05:21:56.736-07:00Fascinating - I didn't know that Carol so than...Fascinating - I didn't know that Carol so thanks!Rosemary Gemmellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09311840205603508422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278356786329973174.post-68027827335203180512016-05-05T13:06:44.624-07:002016-05-05T13:06:44.624-07:00I'm sure my freckles wouldn't have worried...I'm sure my freckles wouldn't have worried about washing them in the dew, as it was usually dried up by the time I was awake. :-)<br /><br />I believe that the start of May was the time when public coaches (the horse-drawn type) were finally able to travel to towns that were inaccessible during the winter months, and the first journey was celebrated with coach decorated with greenery.Carolbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05578076528292643928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278356786329973174.post-18673940788075058502016-05-05T02:29:04.261-07:002016-05-05T02:29:04.261-07:00Thanks, Jean - I suspect there are lots of traditi...Thanks, Jean - I suspect there are lots of traditions I don't know about!<br /><br />Hi Janice - I'll keep the dreich and you can have the humidity! Happy anniversary when it comes.Rosemary Gemmellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09311840205603508422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278356786329973174.post-85062592330797748972016-05-03T18:13:07.579-07:002016-05-03T18:13:07.579-07:00Sorry to hear about the dreich Scottish mayday wea...Sorry to hear about the dreich Scottish mayday weather, Rosemary. In contrast, if you wanted to know, we have 90% humidity and 38deg C here and no air-conditioning!<br /><br />My Nana used to tell me about the May Day dew beauty tip and she said she used to rub it on her face as a young woman. She was also quick to quote the 'n'er cast a clout...'<br /><br />To me, May has always felt like a month of renewal after a hard UK winter and it has always been my favourite month of the year - far more reliable than April - except that I married in May and that year it was both raining and sleeting on my wedding day. <br /><br />So this month Trav and I are celebrating our 33rd anniversary - and we are planning to fly to Vegas this weekend to renew our vows at the Graceland Chapel with Elvis!<br /><br />Janice xxJanicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01831786754054878605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278356786329973174.post-61966825011371928922016-05-03T08:29:26.121-07:002016-05-03T08:29:26.121-07:00It's nice to hear about May Day customs, Rosem...It's nice to hear about May Day customs, Rosemary. It's a shame so many aren't observed any longer.Jean Bullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04805479454940218153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278356786329973174.post-61080804046089301212016-05-03T03:36:01.454-07:002016-05-03T03:36:01.454-07:00I think we all detest freckles as children, Debs, ...I think we all detest freckles as children, Debs, but they definitely fade!<br /><br />Thanks, Rae - I remember my mum quoting it often for various reasons!Rosemary Gemmellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09311840205603508422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278356786329973174.post-57635921510400735692016-05-02T06:01:48.514-07:002016-05-02T06:01:48.514-07:00Such an interesting post, Rosemary. I'd never ...Such an interesting post, Rosemary. I'd never considered the link between Beltane and May day. I used to hate the phrase 'never cast a clout till May be oot' as my mum used to quote it when I asked to discard my woollen tights (which I hated) for the freedom of long, white socks (heaven)!Rae Cowiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10213969901991611348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278356786329973174.post-27487776244454196582016-05-02T03:16:37.892-07:002016-05-02T03:16:37.892-07:00I hated my freckles as a child and would definitel...I hated my freckles as a child and would definitely have washed my face with the May Day dew if I'd had the chance! They're faded somewhat now and I'm not so bothered by them, thankfully.Deborah Carr (Debs)https://www.blogger.com/profile/03223653554549707595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278356786329973174.post-37125694937867140672016-05-02T01:34:00.753-07:002016-05-02T01:34:00.753-07:00Thanks for dropping by to comment, Maggie. Well do...Thanks for dropping by to comment, Maggie. Well done for continuing the May dew washing! That's fascinating about the clootie wells - must be some sight at the Munlochy one and I can imagine it will have a particular atmosphere. Good to know some traditions still survive.Rosemary Gemmellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09311840205603508422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278356786329973174.post-21322499122907013432016-05-02T00:54:23.625-07:002016-05-02T00:54:23.625-07:00As you know, Rosemary, I still do wash my face in ...As you know, Rosemary, I still do wash my face in the May dew, thanks to my mother bringing us up to do this. She said it would make us beautiful! She and another friend of mine also told me of the custom in Inverness of going out on Mayday to the clootie well, not the one at Munlochy, but the one near Culloden battlefield. <br /><br />People took a picnic but also dipped a cloot or a cloth in the water and applied it as desired or required. I'm not sure if the Culloden well had healing properties, as the Munlochy one is believed to. Visited the Culloden well a few years ago but it seemed a bit stagnant. Munlochy Clootie well is still very much in use, with cloots hanging from the surrounding trees. You're supposed to take an item of clothing from the part of your body that has the ailment or sickness, so there's all sorts there. Quite an eerie place. Maggie Craighttp://www.maggiecraig.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278356786329973174.post-39738348988250530422016-05-02T00:53:49.189-07:002016-05-02T00:53:49.189-07:00Glad you enjoyed reading about them, Jennifer!
Ve...Glad you enjoyed reading about them, Jennifer!<br /><br />Very wise, Mary - it's raining here but it's supposed to get warm later this week!<br /><br />It is fun to do that kind of thing, Joan - especially with other people!<br /><br />Must admit I always liked having a few too, Patsy!<br /><br />Good luck with finding the dew, Wendy!<br /><br />Wow - you do celebrate May where you are, Nicola! I like traditions but I'm not so keen on those that keep us awake too long. A good May to you too.Rosemary Gemmellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09311840205603508422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278356786329973174.post-71632121843914085502016-05-02T00:33:24.146-07:002016-05-02T00:33:24.146-07:00I feel like I need some of that dew this morning :...I feel like I need some of that dew this morning :) A lovely post, Rosemary. I haven't slept all weekend due to the festivities of welcoming May. Our village came to life and out door parties raved throughout Saturday and Sunday - non-stop! I didn't participate but heard the music and raucous laughter of the youngsters (yes it appears to be a 'young' festivity). And in the middle of the night on the 30th the young men go to the houses of the young women they fancy and erect a huge branch flowing with ribbons somewhere on the girl's house. There are some lovely traditions.<br /><br />Have a lovely month of May, Rosemary.Nicolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14674648154579013578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278356786329973174.post-58450435156999574142016-05-01T15:11:44.277-07:002016-05-01T15:11:44.277-07:00I would leave a longer comment but I'm off to ...I would leave a longer comment but I'm off to find some dew to improve my complexion XWendy's Writinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06960941625432714363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278356786329973174.post-13215835517783326392016-05-01T10:59:53.003-07:002016-05-01T10:59:53.003-07:00I like my freckles, so I've never risked comin...I like my freckles, so I've never risked coming into contact with May Day dew.Patsyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12263765378083045973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278356786329973174.post-71381910500726556772016-05-01T08:56:41.766-07:002016-05-01T08:56:41.766-07:00When I was a student in Edinburgh, Rosemary, we di...When I was a student in Edinburgh, Rosemary, we did climb Arthur's Seat on May Day, but the stipulation was that you had to be at the top by sunrise in order to gain the benefits of washing your face in the dew. We never quite made it in time...<br /><br />There were no maypoles, and it wasn't particularly colourful as we were all wearing anoraks or similar to cope with the weather.<br /><br />But it was fun. Joan Fleminghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09629276914643471249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278356786329973174.post-51388794976644698632016-05-01T07:36:40.067-07:002016-05-01T07:36:40.067-07:00Whether the saying refers to the month of May or t...Whether the saying refers to the month of May or the hawthorn blossom, I'm not casting any clouts just yet! After days of snow, hailstones, drizzle, sun and more sleet, the weather today settled down to constant downpour.Mary Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14688996930245857265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278356786329973174.post-90054498986658380952016-05-01T07:34:51.625-07:002016-05-01T07:34:51.625-07:00Somehow I missed the fact that it's May Day to...Somehow I missed the fact that it's May Day today (probably because it doesn't feel like it). Too many old traditions are dying out - it's always nice to be reminded. Thanks, Rosemary. :)Jo Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12976757854217324838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278356786329973174.post-66969764355463470562016-05-01T07:11:58.017-07:002016-05-01T07:11:58.017-07:00Thanks, Teresa - we did that kind of silly thing a...Thanks, Teresa - we did that kind of silly thing at that age, although it didn't help with my scattering of freckles!<br /><br />Thanks, Joanna. The floral dressing of the Wells sound delightful! I love those old traditions.<br /><br />They would love the torchlight celebration in Edinburgh, Julia, where they'd see all kinds of wacky costumes, or none at all!Rosemary Gemmellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09311840205603508422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278356786329973174.post-57936341899523633852016-05-01T04:58:47.913-07:002016-05-01T04:58:47.913-07:00I have some 'witchy' friends who will be m...I have some 'witchy' friends who will be marking Beltane. Julia Thorleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00485301135194085398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278356786329973174.post-6354228696229437992016-05-01T01:24:11.872-07:002016-05-01T01:24:11.872-07:00Such a lovely post. Thank you, Rosemary. I loved t...Such a lovely post. Thank you, Rosemary. I loved the image of the bakers dancing round the maypole! Our village has an annual dressing of the Wells on Ascension Day with the letters of the word 'ascension' spelt out in flowers, a stunning sight. xxxJoannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10346863303904973315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5278356786329973174.post-27467153885701711062016-04-30T10:12:40.787-07:002016-04-30T10:12:40.787-07:00Lovely post, Rosemary. I loved the image of you an...Lovely post, Rosemary. I loved the image of you and your friend going to pat your faces with the Mayday dew. I think I need to have a go at that!<br />The description is lovely of the rainbow colours and all the people taking part, it must have been a wonderful sight.<br />It is certainly one of those magical times of year :-) xxTeresa Ashbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15350697922935549188noreply@blogger.com