Category: Traditions & Activities
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Kail-torches for All Hallows’ Eve
Then, first an’ foremost, thro’ the kail,Their stocks maun a’ be sought ance; They steek their een, and grape an’ waleFor muckle anes, an’ straught anes.Poor hav’rel Will fell aff the drift,An’ wandered thro’ the bow-kail,An’ pou’t for want o’ better shiftA runt was like a sow-tailSae bow’t that night. Robert Burns, “Halloween“ Although pumpkin…
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Bartlemas “flayed” leather bracelets
When celebrating feasts in the liturgical calendar, I love trying to find crafts that can somehow teach us about the story we’re walking through. Memory is so tied to the tangible, after all. In thinking about a craft for Bartlemas, I wasn’t quite sure where to go – St. Bartholomew’s martyrdom was famously grisly: he…
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Rushbearing for the domestic church
Historically, churches and other buildings had hard, cold dirt floors. To provide some warmth and comfort to parishioners in a time before pews were used, rushes (Acorus calamus), mixed with aromatic flowers & herbs, were strewn on the church floor. The flowers added both a fresh, wonderful scent, as well as some natural insect-repellent. This…
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Carrot Sunday
On the Sunday before Michaelmas – known as ‘Domhnach Curran’, or ‘Carrot Sunday’ – Hebridean women would head to the fields to pull carrots, hoping for a lucky two-pronged root. If the soil were soft enough, they could easily pull the carrots – but, if the soil were hard, a three-pronged mattock was used to…
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Oyster-shell candles for St. James’ Day
Here’s a simple craft inspired by St. James’ association with oyster shells – especially the English tradition of making candlelit oyster-shell grottos! A great way to find oyster shells is to go to any local seafood restaurants and inquire about discarded shells – they often have heaps of them. After some cleaning (dish soap, airing…
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Mint carpet for the Assumption
Historically, church aisles would be carpeted with mint for the Assumption – as parishioners walked across the mint, every footstep released fragrance. What a beautiful, tangible way of calling to mind the Assumption of Mary! A few years ago, we began folding this fragrant tradition into our home. We harvest fresh mint from our fields…
Hearthstone Fables 