Customs
Found in 215 Collections and/or Records:
Note entitled 'Fishing Banks', 1884
Note entitled 'Fishing Banks' stating that fishing banks in Norway and Barra are both apportioned in the same way. The banks are allotted by the people and a bank may belong to a tribe living forty miles up a fjord.
Note entitled 'Fuath', 1894
Note by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula entitled 'Fuath' describing it as a invisible spirit deemed an omen that a family will lose all their possessions shortly. It appears in a whirl wind, secluded places or 'at wakes of wicked people'. Text has been scored through as if transcribed elsewhere.
Note entitled 'Iona Names', 1886
Note entitled 'Iona Names' containing scholarly suggestions for the origins of the name 'Iona' citing Irish, Hebrew, Greek and Latin as possible origins and noting that Norse writers call the island 'Insula Sancta Holy Island'. The note continues that 'Sodora' was the name for the village on Iona in old times and that no women were allowed to be buried near 'the Great church' as late as 1693. Note concludes 'M[anu]s[cript] writer unknown'.
Note entitled 'La Feill Mhicheil', 1894
Note entitled 'Lus an acrais', 1894
Note by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula entitled 'Lus an acrais' describing it as a 'dangerous plant' which will sicken people. 'it grows from "Night Soil" produced from food taken without grace or other signs of thankfulness. If a person step[s] over or very near it, it has effect on them.' Text has been scored through as if transcribed elsewhere.
Note entitled 'Maighdean Bhuana', 1884
Note entitled 'Maighdean Bhuana' [the name given to the last handful of corn cut] that it would be dressed up and a piece would be given to the horses on the first day of ploughing. Notes the 'greim cu'aig' [greim cubhaige, a piece of food taken so that the cuckoo would not be heard on an empty stomach] which was eaten before going out in the morning. Also notes another ritual involving sickles.
Note entitled 'Marriage Customs', 1887
Note entitled 'Marriage Customs' describing the way in which marriage preliminaries on Colonsay [Colbhasa] were conducted, with the two parties meeting on two hillocks on three occasions, each time getting closer to each other. If either party withdrew the withdrawing party paid the tocher [dowry] to the other.
Note entitled 'Mian-fuail', 1894
Note by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula entitled 'Mian-fuail' describing it as 'a drop of "fual" or "wine" direct from either sex if put in any eatables would create or kindle a spark of flaming love in the bosom of the party taking it.' Text has been scored through as if transcribed elsewhere.
Note entitled 'Observations' about 'Corra cnamh', 1894
Note by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula, entitled 'Observations' describing 'Corra cnamh' as a milkmaid sitting with her knees half bent and her skirt folded on her heels to support her instead of a stool. Text has been scored through as if transcribed elsewhere.
Note entitled 'Purgatory', September 1872
Note entitled 'Purgatory' collected on the Isle of Barra [Barraigh] explaining the four stages of purgatory. The note then goes on to describe prayers made by women especially at funerals for the souls of the departed. Carmichael notes 'No cairns in Barra for the dead'. This text has been scored through in ink as if transcribed elsewhere.