Scotland and Robert Burns Birthday

 

January 25th is the birthday of the famous Scottish author and poet Robert Burns who was born in 1759.

And loving Scotland and all things Scottish has been famous for years...

 

 

 Queen Victoria and Prince Albert loved the Scottish Highlands, and Prince Albert redesigned Balmoral Castle into their Highland retreat.

And Queen Victoria splashed tartans... including several they designed themselves... around the interiors...

Above is a family drawing of a drawing room at Balmoral, that has hardly changed, as Queen Elizabeth II loves it as well...

Her Majesty at the Ghillies Ball in 1971...

Burns is still remembered by many with Burns Night festivities which include poetry, whiskey and haggis...he even wrote a poem to the famous regional dish of Scotland... which I don't like.  

I recently re-read a cozy murder mystery by Canadian author C. C. Benison called Eleven Pipers Piping, where the murder occurs at a very rancorous Burns Night supper. A very fun read! 

  I also love his series featuring transplanted Canadian Jane Bee who finds herself a housemaid at the Royal palaces and sleuthful helper of the Queen. Great fun!

These 2 photos of the Scottish Highlands, some of the most popular posts in the last few years on my Facebook page, may go someway to explaining the beauty and appeal of the highlands...

the above photo is of an unidentified location, and the photo below is of Loch Muick in Aerdeenshire...

Or this of the Cairngorms on the Balmoral estate...

And always a popular theme in decor. Shelley China, England, a marvelous pottery which unfortunately closed in 1966, had a long lived popular pattern called Heather. 

Below is an example of the wonderful Scottish landscape with multicolored heather by what I am sure is a salmon stream in a gorgeous large plate or charger...

So remember to sing For 'Auld Lang Syne today...one of Robert Burns most famous compositions. I won't suggest raising a glass of whiskey...don't like that either! I make a poor Scot... good thing I'm English...I'll have that cup of tea now...

We're All Scottish On Burns Night January 25th

January 25th is the birthday of the famous Scottish author and poet Robert Burns who was born in 1759.

And loving Scotland ad all things Scottish has been famous for years...

 

 

 Queen Victoria and Prince Albert loved the Scottish Highlands, and Prince Albert redesigned Balmoral Castle into their Highland retreat.

And Queen Victoria splashed tartans... including several they designed themselves... around the interiors...

Above is a family drawing of a drawing room at Balmoral, that has hardly changed, as Queen Elizabeth II loves it as well...

Her Majesty at the Ghillies Ball in 1971...

Burns is still remembered by many with Burns Night festivities which include poetry, whiskey and haggis...he even wrote a poem to the famous regional dish of Scotland... which I don't like.  

I recently read a cozy murder mystery by Canadian author C. C. Benison called Eleven Pipers Piping, where the murder occurs at a very rancorous Burns Night supper. A very fun read! 

  I also love his series featuring transplanted Canadian Jane Bee who finds herself a housemaid at the Royal palaces and sleuthful helper of the Queen. Great fun!

These 2 photos of the Scottish Highlands, some of the most popular posts in the last few years on my Facebook page, may go someway to explaining the beauty and appeal of the highlands...

the above photo is of an unidentified location, and the photo below is of Loch Muick in Aerdeenshire...

Or this of the Cairngorms on the Balmoral estate...

And always a popular theme in decor. Shelley China, England, a marvelous pottery which unfortunately closed in 1966, had a long lived popular pattern called Heather. 

Below is an example of the wonderful Scottish landscape with multicolored heather by what I am sure is a salmon stream in a gorgeous large plate or charger...

So remember to sing For 'Auld Lang Syne today...one of Robert Burns most famous compositions. I won't suggest raising a glass of whiskey...don't like that either! I make a poor Scot... good thing I'm English...I'll have that cup of tea now...

Happy New Year and Happy Hogmanay, or Scottish New Year!

Happy New Year my friends!

In England and other areas of the UK, Hogmanay is celebrated as the New Year's tradition, especially in Scotland where the celebrations last for 3 days.

 It is not known exactly where the word comes from, although it is believed to come from the French word 'hoginane' meaning 'gala day'. It is thought to have first been used widely following Mary, Queen of Scots' return to Scotland from France in 1561. 

And when Oliver Cromwell outlawed Christmas for fear of idolatry in the 1650s, Hogmanay gained popularity.

 Hogmanay has some fun customs... and First Footing is one.

 First Footing plays an important part. The First Footer refers to the first person who crosses the threshold of your house after midnight and "seals yer fate" for the coming year. The First Footer should be a tall, dark and handsome man with a "dainty foot". Until the First Footer came in the front door after midnight, no one should enter or leave. The First Footer would knock, be asked to enter and do so with gifts in his pockets which have regional variations. :

The usual in my family's tradition was bread or sometimes salt, coal, coins and matches. In Scotland the bread is shortbread and also included...what else? Whiskey! The First Footer then backs out of the door...so he won't take his good luck with him. Then the door (and the party) is free for all! 

The coal means your hearth won't grow cold, your bread is enough food, the coins insure prosperity and the matches, light.

First Footers who met the criteria, were in great demand and could make good money going from house to house by appointment, and earn enough to live on for months. 

 And, as all over, the singing of Burn's great song Auld Lang Syne

Another Hogmany treat is Black Bun... and this great photo and article in The Herald:

'Serving a slice of black bun with a generous dram to first-footers on Hogmanay is traditional in Scotland':
https://www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/15656155.serving-a-slice-of-black-bun-with-a-generous-dram-to-first-footers-on-hogmanay-is-traditional-in-scotland-shirley-spear/

So who will be first through your door??? I know who will be first in our home, as He will never have left! 

A Happy New Year to you all and may 2020 be a year of health, prosperity, peace and happiness in our home and in yours!

Cheers! 

Time Was Antiques 15% OFF with code SANTAFORGOT continues through January 3rd!

December and Memorable Days

November 30th was St. Andrew's Day...

Saint Andrew's Day is the feast day of Andrew the Apostle. It is celebrated on 30 November, which this year was on a Saturday. Saint Andrew's Day is Scotland's official national day, and Monday is a Bank Holiday Monday.... so we can all celebrate Scotland.

This is a great vintage transferware plate in the Royal Warwick, England Lochs Of Scotland series in the Loch Otch pattern from the 1940s. A great Scottish vista with thistles in the border! 

 Next up...

December 1st was today, but I am sure I won't be the first to say to you... in the English tradition...

"white rabbits, white rabbits" 

in the belief that good luck will be guaranteed for the month.

Although the superstition has been around for a long time, it was first recorded in a folklore book in 1909 apparently...

I loved trying to beat my English Nana to it every month...

The artwork above... the white rabbit of Alice In Wonderland, of course... 

is by Jacob Kuch.

So Enjoy your December... things will get hectic soon for the holidays!

Happy New Year 2018, Hogmanay in Scotland

And a Happy New Year to you! We always take time tonight to pray for God's blessing for the coming year and thank Him for His grace through the ending year.

In England and other areas of the UK, especially in Scotland where Hogmanay is celebrated as the New Year's tradition, First Footing plays an important part. The First Footer refers to the first person who crosses the threshhold after midnight and "seals yer fate" for the coming year. The First Footer should be a tall, dark and handsome man with a "dainty foot". Until the First Footer came in the front door after midnight, no one should enter or leave. The First Footer would knock, be asked to enter and do so with gifts in his pockets which have regional variations. :

The usual in my family's tradition was bread or sometimes salt, coal, coins and matches. In Scotland the bread is shortbread and also included...what else? Whiskey! The First Footer then backs out of the door...so he won't take his good luck with him. Then the door (and the party) is free for all! 

The coal means your hearth won't grow cold, your bread is enough food, the coins insure prosperity and the matches, light.

First Footers who met the criteria, were in great demand and could make good money going from house to house by appointment. 

So who will be first through your door??? I know who will be first in our home, as He will never have left! 

A Happy New Year to you all and may 2012 be a year of health, prosperity, peace and happiness in our home and in yours!

Cheers!

Queen Elizabeth Visits The Kelpies in Scotland

This week, Queen Elizabeth visited Scotland...  staying at Holyrood House in Edinburgh...

Part of her time here was hosting garden parties, where various honours are given out to people for their service in communities across Scotland.... 

And she also visited a place I have always wanted to go...but haven't been able to go...but our neice and husband who live in Morecambe  in the UK went on holiday...the famous Kelpies in Falkirk... the photo below is from my niece...

 To gauge size of these massive tower sculptures, look carefully and you will see people on the walks around the bases. 

The sculptures, by artist Andy Scott, who was there and met the Queen and Duke, depict the Clydesdale horses who worked to tow the canal barges up the canals on the towpaths along side and inspired his sculptures...
The photo above shows the artist on the right with Clydesdales Duke and Baron...

The queen met some representatives of the breeds that pulled the canal barges...the Queen loves horses, so I am sure she enjoyed this... 

 photo from The Telegraph

The Queen also travelled by canal boat in the newest section of canal in Scotland, named in her honour.  The Queen Elizabeth II Canal forms the eastern gateway to the Forth and Clyde Canal and flows right up to the acclaimed horse-head sculptures...part of the 43 billion pound Helix Project reclaiming unused or underused land and waterways...

 The 30m-high Kelpies structures CREDIT: PA

 The Kelpies are a wonderful example of modern and monumental public sculpture in the UK...especially in the north...

Just thought you might be interested!

Have a lovely week and a cup of tea with friends!

Thanks for visiting!