SCOTS Project - www.scottishcorpus.ac.uk Document : 546 Title : The Fower Quarters: 01 - Introduction Author(s): Sheena Blackhall Copyright holder(s): Sheena Blackhall Text The fictional stories in this volume are grouped loosely around the old Scottish quarter days, representing the fourfold vision of the year and marking the transition from one season to the next. The quarter days were also the dates when rents were paid and when farm workers were hired for a term or discharged. Their origins lie far back in pre-Christian times. Candlemas Day (February 2) became the Feast of the Purification of the Virgins under Pope Sergius I (687-701 CE) and on that day the candles for the subsequent year were solemnly consecrated. In Classical times women bore lighted candles through the streets in commemoration of Ceres searching Hades for her daughter Persephone. In Celtic mythology, the beginning of February marked the spring festival of St Bride, patron saint of poetry, blacksmiths, healing and the hearth. One legend recounts how Bride was imprisoned throughout winter in Ben Nevis until her rescue by Aengus of the Milk-White Steed. Another describes winter as an old Cailleach who returned to die on the Island of Youth, being reborn as the virgin Bride, at whose touch the dun grass is revived and the white flowers of early spring appear. At Candlemas too, the adder was said to terminate its hibernation and to slough its old skin, thereby symbolising the annual renewal of nature. Whitsun (May 8) links the Christian Pentecost to the pagan feast of Beltane and marks the beginning of summer, when the sidhe (fairy folk) were abroad in the countryside. Houses were decorated with rowan branches and people made their visits to clootie wells. The Beltane bannock and other offerings were made to propitiate the destructive forces of nature and to guard against predation by wild beasts, with the incantation: This I give to thee, O Fox; preserve my lambs. This I give to thee, O Hoodie Craw. Symbolised by the swan, Whitsun (May Day) marked the time when young lovers plighted their troth and looked forward to the fruitful marriage, just as their elders hoped for an abundant harvest of fruit and grain. Lammas (in Old English, loaf-mass) saw harvest and the giving of the first fruits in thankfulness to the deity, whether Christian or Pagan. In Celtic mythology the harvest festival is dedicated to the God Lugh, in whose honour great horse-racing gathering (and later the annual fairs) were held. It was a time of omens, as people looked forward with apprehension to the declining year: Flee ower frith, an flee ower fell; Flee ower puil and rinnin well; Flee ower muir, and flee ower mead; Flee ower leevin, flee ower deid; Flee ower corn, an flee ower leas; Flee ower river, flee ower sea; Flee ye tae east, an flee ye tae west; Flee ye tae her that ye lue the best. Martinmas Day (November 11) marked the start of winter. The feast of St Martin in the Christian calendar, it paralleled the Celtic festival of Samhuinn, a time of remembrance for the dead: This nicht is Halla-een, the morn is Halla-day Nine free nichts till Martinmas, an sune they'll wear away. (Trad.) This work is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. The SCOTS Project and the University of Glasgow do not necessarily endorse, support or recommend the views expressed in this document. Information about document and author: Text Text audience General public: Audience size: 100+ Text details Method of composition: Handwritten Word count: 523 Text medium Book: Text publication details Published: Publisher: GKB Enterprises Publication year: 2002 Place of publication: Aberdeen ISBN/ISSN: 0952655462 Part of larger text: Contained in: The Fower Quarters: Tales by Sheena Blackhall Text type Prose: nonfiction: Other: Introduction to collection of short stories and poems Author Author details Author id: 112 Forenames: Sheena Surname: Blackhall Gender: Female Decade of birth: 1940 Educational attainment: University Age left school: 16 Upbringing/religious beliefs: Brought up Protestant, now Buddhist Occupation: Writer and supply teacher Place of birth: Aberdeen Region of birth: Aberdeen Birthplace CSD dialect area: Abd Country of birth: Scotland Place of residence: Aberdeen Region of residence: Aberdeen Residence CSD dialect area: Abd Country of residence: Scotland Father's occupation: Manager of Deeside Omnibus Service Father's place of birth: Aboyne Father's region of birth: Aberdeen Father's birthplace CSD dialect area: Abd Father's country of birth: Scotland Mother's occupation: Private Secretary Mother's place of birth: Aberdeen Mother's region of birth: Aberdeen Mother's birthplace CSD dialect area: Abd Mother's country of birth: Scotland Languages: Language: English Speak: Yes Read: Yes Write: Yes Understand: Yes Circumstances: Language: Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic Speak: Yes Read: Yes Write: Yes Understand: Yes Circumstances: Elementary. Gaelic choir. Poetry. Language: Scots Speak: Yes Read: Yes Write: Yes Understand: Yes Circumstances: