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Customs

 Subject
Subject Source: Sss
Scope Note: Created For = CW

Found in 215 Collections and/or Records:

Superstition relating to the fairies, 3 January 1872

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW90/14
Scope and Contents

Superstition relating to the fairies probably collected in Gramasdail/Gramsdale, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula which states that the sithichean are said to be about when the fir chlis [aurora borealis] are out and that the only way to keep them at bay is 'to place an eitig live coal in the breast of a traveller!'.

Dates: 3 January 1872

Superstition that a cat washing his face brings strangers, 1884

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW120/263
Scope and Contents

Superstition that a cat washing his face brings strangers.

Dates: 1884

Transcription notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael, 1860 to c1866

 Series
Identifier: Coll-97/CW112
Scope and Contents Transcription notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael. The majority of the volume has been used but intermittently there are groups of blank folios. Carmichael appears to have written in the book in the 1860s creating sections of different genres at different stages in the volume, with pages left blank in between to fill up appropriately. In about 1875 he has then used some of these blank pages to transcribe notes and stories but has not kept to the genres sections he initially created....
Dates: 1860 to c1866

Transcription notebook of Alexander Carmichael, 1865-1886

 Series
Identifier: Coll-97/CW7
Scope and Contents Transcription notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael containing mainly Fenian songs and cattle charms. Most of the charms relate to cattle and working in the dairy and so are recited for the protection and healing of cattle, although there are some charms for protecting and healing people as well. A number of the charms include the use of medicinal plants, for which there is additional vocabulary. Carmichael also includes charms and customs for predicting marriage partners. Almost all of...
Dates: 1865-1886

Two expressions relating to spilt milk and accompanying notes, c1893

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW126f/87
Scope and Contents

Two expressions relating to spilt milk and accompanying notes. The first expression reads 'Tha tart air muinntir anns an talamh' which refers to a belief that there were creatures who lived 'below' who lived on spilt milk, cream or water. The second expression is 'Na canaibh guth - tha bial feumach a feitheamh air', which was said by an old man when his wife spilt some milk on the floor.

Dates: c1893

Two poems and custom entitled 'Geaslanac na Callaig', 24 September 2010

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW90/112
Scope and Contents Two poems and custom entitled 'Geaslanac na Callaig', the first poem begins 'Mas a gao[th] an ias a Challaig iasg us aran' while the second one begins 'Mi direadh leis an ardorus s mi tearna leis an tusan'. The custom tells how on Hogmanay, the caisean-uchd [breast-strip] was lighted and swung round the head of each member of the household three times and if the light went out, it would mean that the person would die that year. The text has been scored through in ink as if transcribed...
Dates: 24 September 2010

Two songs, one entitled 'Duan Bannag na Callaig' and the other beginning 'Fhir a Challain i ri o' accompanying note, 27 October 1873

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW115/3
Scope and Contents

Two songs, one entitled 'Duan Bannag na Callaig' beginning 'Taobh a phocain toa' an tearcain' and the other beginning 'Fhir a Challain i ri o' probably collected from Angus Gunn, cottar, Dail bho Thuath/North Dell, Nis/Ness, Eilean Leòdhais/Isle of Lewis. The note explains that after the second song the custom was that '2 bannag were handed out round the fire'. The text has been scored through in ink as if transcribed elsewhere.

Dates: 27 October 1873

Two stories about Ruary an tartair [Roderick MacNeil] and accompanying notes about Barraigh/Isle of Barra], 1867

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW114/25
Scope and Contents Two stories about Ruary an tartair [Ruairidh an Tartair or Roderick MacNeil], the first being that when he had dinner he would send a servant to the top of He-eveall [Sheabhal/Heabhal, Barraigh/Isle of Barra] with a trumpet to proclaim as such, noting that 'Biola-creag was the badge on MacNeils livery' [Bual na Creige/Biulacraig, Miùghlaigh/Mingulay] and that it is the 'third if not the second highest [cliff] in Britain'. The second story tells how he went to challenge Rob Roy [MacGregor]...
Dates: 1867

Two stories relating to the rocks and seaweed on Tarasaigh/Taransay, 8 July 1870

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW116/33
Scope and Contents Two stories relating to the rocks and seaweed on Tarasaigh/Taransay, the first states that 'Clach-ultach at Mol-mircein [is] a long & per[pendicular] round granite pillar ...of old persons used to lift it' and describes how a young, strong lad from Caolas Scalpay [Caolas Scalpaigh/Kyles Scalpay, Na Hearadh/Isle of Harris] tried to lift it but let it fall and it broke. Noting that 'mircein' is 'a seaweed of the tangle kind', the second story tells how Capt[ain] [Kenneth] Campbell would...
Dates: 8 July 1870

Unclear note about a peck of gold, 10 July 1870

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW116/66
Scope and Contents

Unclear note probably collected on Tarasaigh/Taransay which reads 'A peck of gold was the stand[ard] of ambi. ere put[tin]g it underground in the sack.'

Dates: 10 July 1870