I imagine the first question anyone will ask is what is a column called "Scottish Flotsam". I guess we will have to begin with what is "flotsam". Among the definitions of the word are "things washed ashore" or "miscellaneous trifles". Well, we believe you can find some great treasure on the ocean shore. But -- you will never know what you will find or its value. So we decided that is what this column is - flotsam. We wanted a place to put things that didn't fit anywhere else and might be of interest. Each item could be a column itself and might be some day but for now it will be the flotsam, which washes our way.
Now lets look at a Scottish Queen:
Anne - Daughter of James VII.On 1st April 1707 the Union of Parliaments extinguished the Kingdoms of Scotland and England replacing them with the new United Kingdom of Great Britain. Queen Anne died in 1714 and was succeeded by George I of the House of Hanover - the great grandson of James VI by the female line Source - http://www.nwlink.com/~scotlass
It is time to stop combing the library but we can not quit without some quotes from The Pocket Book of Scottish Quotations another great History bookshelf resident. Let's see what quotes we can find. This month the subject is toasts and greetings. Good night, and joy be wi' you a';
We'll maybe meet again the morn.
James Hogg (1770-1835), Good Night, and Joy Be Wi' You
May the hills lie low,
May the sloughs fill up
In thy way.
Kenneth Macleod (1871-1955), Blessing of the Road
Highland honours are one foot on the chair and the other on the table, with the exclamation of 'Neish, neish, shouterish, shouterish, hurrah!' which is translated 'Now, now, again, again, hurrahl' the company brandishing and emptying their glasses, and then throwing each glass into the fire. The latter part of the ceremony was omitted in this case, but I have seen it done. Being inconvenient and expensive, it is not generally adopted, particularly if there is a lady in the house.
Joseph Mitchell (1803-1883), Reminiscences of My Life in the Highlands
The traditional Orkney invitation to a visitor was, 'Put in thee hand.'
Edwin Muir (1887-1959), Autobiography
I'll drink a cup to Scotland yet,
Wi' a' the honours threel
Henry Scott Riddell (1798 -1870), The Three Honours of Scotland
Plenty herring, plenty meal,
Plenty peat to fill her creel -
Plenty bonny bairns as weel,
That's the toast for Mairi.
Sir Hugh S. Roberton (1874-1952), The Lewis Bridal Song
Now for a Gaelic Proverb for this month.
| Is beag orm an rud nach binn leam | I like not what I find not sweet. |
You can find more articles in the archive under Scottish Flotsam.
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