tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23383186991731704702024-03-13T02:30:35.867-05:00McCain's CornerCommentary on Irish, Scottish, Welsh, and Southern, people, culture, folklore and history, And the Fairy Faith and Second Sight, Феи. Barry R McCainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061685131254246076noreply@blogger.comBlogger270125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338318699173170470.post-68109384286615926072023-09-29T10:34:00.006-05:002023-09-29T10:37:47.684-05:00Happy Michaelmas<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMFOKdZZTwn8DFFBTK96nITmqbf5Rnh8oPbRRX_UZvu6W3I5E8l1f-fA5JP9Xctt3vnP5vDvRbUdNXQfctwUPQr9kQaqkDMrBXZ6Eufo-1cMblqgr5pJXDzMYFYn1aU1hn_5sWXPrQixTxzOwt6aslInWv8eQY_9OvHxcwyhTMEDE1bUtVxwlUkOwCJo/s4032/Morning%20Glory%201.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMFOKdZZTwn8DFFBTK96nITmqbf5Rnh8oPbRRX_UZvu6W3I5E8l1f-fA5JP9Xctt3vnP5vDvRbUdNXQfctwUPQr9kQaqkDMrBXZ6Eufo-1cMblqgr5pJXDzMYFYn1aU1hn_5sWXPrQixTxzOwt6aslInWv8eQY_9OvHxcwyhTMEDE1bUtVxwlUkOwCJo/w400-h300/Morning%20Glory%201.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">And a Happy Michaelmas to one and all... so named as this is the feast day of Saint Michael. At least, since Christian times, and it falls near one of the Celtic quarter days. The actual quarter day was 23 September on this year, but the festival is celebrated on 29 September in more recent times. In Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man, this was, and still is, an important festival time. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Saint Michael was an important angel in the Christian cosmology. He was a warrior, the leader of God's army. The festival is much older than Christian times however, and it was the Celtic god Lugh that was the original celestial being associated with Michaelmas. Lugh is the god associated with the harvest, with various arts, crafts, etc. There is a pseudo history of him being the 'sun god.' However, this is in error stemming from a mistaken etymology of his name that suggested his name was linked to 'light.' The real etymology of Lugh is from the Indo-European word <i>lewgh</i> meaning 'to bind by oath.' And Lugh was the god of oaths. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">And on that theme... the photo is of two Morning Glory flowers. This photo I took just minutes ago. The Morning Glory is the fancy name for a Sweet Potato. And, my garden, half of my garden in fact, has been taken over by Sweet Potato vines. Harvest date of these sweet potatoes will be in the first week of October, which is a fitting tribute to Lugh I think. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Anyroad, a very happy Michaelmas to you all, and tip a cup to Saint Michael, or to Lugh, as they are pretty much the same entity. A fire in the firepit and the drink of your choice are all that is needed to mark this day. Enjoy. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Barry R McCain </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Barry R McCainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061685131254246076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338318699173170470.post-82962489650315953202023-08-01T12:48:00.002-05:002023-08-01T12:54:45.837-05:00Lúnasa 2023<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBWYwZr_JzchYjJwkIbVyqnkK1WmG0WlhF9D-FNBex7TsfTsVK8sZuXNJWPEQcC3uuMac0U4usb6Hq0wdZ_RhM-vusRXn3PE2ThWNSxNhWC67OyNTFKefXwhLBK1cOxkxOKxNSQxg_uebkzl6DptpSAdVmpe31W-lbN1gAmdzH-R8VMsfQlyBuT4d-5vY/s4032/Lunasa%202023.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBWYwZr_JzchYjJwkIbVyqnkK1WmG0WlhF9D-FNBex7TsfTsVK8sZuXNJWPEQcC3uuMac0U4usb6Hq0wdZ_RhM-vusRXn3PE2ThWNSxNhWC67OyNTFKefXwhLBK1cOxkxOKxNSQxg_uebkzl6DptpSAdVmpe31W-lbN1gAmdzH-R8VMsfQlyBuT4d-5vY/w400-h300/Lunasa%202023.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">This a view of my back garden, taken just a few minutes ago. This is also, Lúnasa, and ancient Gaelic festival day, which I observe. It has been celebrated from several thousand years and is as popular as ever in Ireland especially, but also in Scotland, and of course, in the Diaspora. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">In this photo you see my back vegetable garden and my smoker which has a rack of pork ribs in it right now. The fire pit there, which tonight we shall have a small fire to mark Lúnasa. Today I planted fall garden crops, bunch onions, carrots, and romaine lettuce. I love fall gardening. It is a small photo so it is hard to see details, but there are sweet potatoes, string beans, onions, cucumbers, tomatoes, sunflowers, blue berries, all back there. Also various herbs which are used daily in the kitchen. The birds love my back garden, today I have seen Indigo Buntings and Golden Finches, they come here to eat the sunflower seeds I grow for them. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The garden a fine acknowledgement</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> to Lúnasa. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Gardens are magical places, I also have a small </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Hawthorn struggling to survive</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> our summer heat, but seems to be doing ok. A Hawthorn is a sacred tree as it attracts the Síthe, i.e. the Fairies. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">For those who are awake, have a grand Lúnasa, observe the traditions. Light a fire, say words to the ancestors, have an offering of drink for yourself and remember to pour a sip to the old ones, the Síthe. What a wonderful spot in this Cosmos we are in. Enjoy. </span></p>Barry R McCainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061685131254246076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338318699173170470.post-76599344515547050642023-04-30T15:28:00.005-05:002023-04-30T15:32:10.723-05:00Beltane 2023<p> </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKTsXQDcdQeHeJjPxF96g6MsUl-c328tGpEtj7miFt8WzaurdLk2hdm55Zn5-JELrLnYLk2yqL8kKMTU9ddaTVu25sYVSvzTRuQGSJ54UftYfIb2CwRMzuGNftpE1wFI8of-8R_XqAOzsQnLABRU1_bpxTtDPiN5AGW9vWnzguB2tCjuU6lAjj3gp/s216/Oak%20Druid.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="216" data-original-width="168" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKTsXQDcdQeHeJjPxF96g6MsUl-c328tGpEtj7miFt8WzaurdLk2hdm55Zn5-JELrLnYLk2yqL8kKMTU9ddaTVu25sYVSvzTRuQGSJ54UftYfIb2CwRMzuGNftpE1wFI8of-8R_XqAOzsQnLABRU1_bpxTtDPiN5AGW9vWnzguB2tCjuU6lAjj3gp/w312-h400/Oak%20Druid.jpg" width="312" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><span face=""Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: x-large;">Beltane </span><span face=""Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">is the anglicised name of the Gaelic May Day festival. May Day is on 1 May and is held on or near the halfway mark between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. It is one of the oldest and most ancient festival days. It is widely observed in Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man, and in modern times has spread to the Diaspora. </span></p><p><span face=""Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">In Irish Gaelic it is called Lá Bealtaine, in Scottish Gaelic, Là Bealltainn, an in Manx Gaelic Laa Boaltinn. Beltane is one of the four Gaelic seasonal festivals, along with Samhain, Imbolc, and Lughnasa. There are several theories on the etymology of Beltane; the most accepted one is that it is from the common Celtic Belo-tenia, meaning 'bright or shinning fire,' which in turn goes back to the Indo-European 'Bhel (to shine) tepnos (warm).</span></p><p><span face=""Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span face=""Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"><span>It is not a 'fire festival,' but fire is a integral part of the festivities. Prior to modern times it was a festival to mark and celebrate the moving of livestock to summer pastures and to honour the old gods and evoke the blessings of fertility of the tribe and the life giving cattle. </span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666;" /><span face=""Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"><span><br /></span></span><span face=""Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"><span>Beltane is mentioned in the earliest written Gaelic literature when Christian monks began to write down Gaelic lore and myths in early medieval times. The medieval accounts were ancient even then and date back before Christianity was introduced to the Gaelic homelands. </span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666;" /><span face=""Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"><span><br /></span></span><span face=""Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"><span>On the Beltane Eve the festival began. The people gathered to feast, have drink, and make offerings to the Aos Sí, who are the old gods of the Gaels. Byres, the windows and doors of homes, etc., were decorated with flowers. It was a joyous festival ushering in the bountiful time when the days grew longer, the sun shined more, and the weather grew warmer.</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666;" /></span></p><p><span face=""Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Beltane survived the coming of Christianity and continued on for centuries, despite the attempts of overly zealous Christian officials who wanted to stop the practice, as they were fully aware of the pagan origins of Beltane. By the 20th century the festival had almost died out and was only celebrated and practiced in certain areas in Ireland, Scotland, and Man. In the late 20th century there was a revival of Beltane festivities. The focus of Beltane changed some in these modern times, but the main core beliefs did remain. The concept of the season change, the coming of the sun, and the start of the season of growth and plenty, etc., remain.</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 5px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMO2uEJidr182l7Thc_ceN0BTXlOoeewIsupGBkvuG-7O7YG19xvP_VlBlCnxBw5_fOx9fXZSkP52yWF78bnkloclUS9IEN1JZVapXX6zy3CPdakGBDgs03EYqqHJFoj_X2fvG3N_RCM/s1600/dagda+iii.jpg" style="color: #2288bb; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="774" data-original-width="1000" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMO2uEJidr182l7Thc_ceN0BTXlOoeewIsupGBkvuG-7O7YG19xvP_VlBlCnxBw5_fOx9fXZSkP52yWF78bnkloclUS9IEN1JZVapXX6zy3CPdakGBDgs03EYqqHJFoj_X2fvG3N_RCM/w390-h301/dagda+iii.jpg" style="background: transparent; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="390" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.56px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dagda</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fire was and is an integral part of Beltane. All fires were put out on Beltane Eve and then rekindled starting with the lighting of the bonfire. It was this holy flame from which the 'new' flames of the the folk began. It was the 'force fire' and sacred. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Many will recognise the fire ritual as the same ritual used in the Catholic Church and several other Christian denominations in the Easter lighting of the Paschal candle. </span><span style="font-size: large;">There are too many Beltane nuances and rituals to describe here, but there is one core aspect of the ritual. This is a Deiseal procession around the sacred fire. Deiseal means 'right-hand direction' or Sunwise (clockwise). The Deiseal procession around the sacred fire was a Blessing of the Cosmos upon all. </span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 13.2px;" /><span face=""Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span face=""Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Beltane is still celebrated and the practice is growing. It is now held not only in the Gaelic homeland, but in the Diaspora, and has been incorporated into similar May Eve and May Day celebrations in Europe. While many see Beltane as just a good time with a bonfire, there is also a growing interest in the spiritual aspects of the festival. The concepts of the a new growing season, the connection to the Old Ways of ancestors, and reflection upon life, are also now part of Beltane for a growing number of people.</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 13.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 13.2px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 13.2px;" /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 5px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNllpQknX4IG-hFeFeldq-3U5wc2J_LKntqjccTibYKArogJj5jrgMOV-Z5ba-M8t48tFZFreUG3m6XHzb1f4UoIicrpRn19_1mCu1YCg7n3f6jrRxQ6C3gGJWpfTg6iW-jhnzAoPudEA/s1600/18+Oct+2013+fire.jpg" style="color: #2288bb; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1445" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNllpQknX4IG-hFeFeldq-3U5wc2J_LKntqjccTibYKArogJj5jrgMOV-Z5ba-M8t48tFZFreUG3m6XHzb1f4UoIicrpRn19_1mCu1YCg7n3f6jrRxQ6C3gGJWpfTg6iW-jhnzAoPudEA/w326-h361/18+Oct+2013+fire.jpg" style="background: transparent; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="326" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.56px;"><span style="font-size: large;">a sacred fire of Bealtaine<br /><br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.56px;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span face=""Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Do enjoy Beltane. A bonfire is best way to partake of course and with a Deiseal (clockwise) procession around the sacred fire. Followed by toasts to the Aos Sí, to Ancestors, to the coming season of Summer. If you lack the means of a bonfire, a candle will do, or even a wee fire in your fire-pit. Connect with your Ancestors and the Old Ways, as these are good things. </span></span></p><p><br /></p>Barry R McCainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061685131254246076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338318699173170470.post-3649142677361018642022-12-05T08:45:00.002-06:002022-12-05T08:52:07.099-06:00 Irish Christmas Cake<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY8X-_u8ZGQxTp9KxMWyaMqdE11R12uT5BNwHgBtM5WvlY-jJ4z0j6R4Xv6An9rVAbNEir1oNDSh7QJd2qDbSWuBBg4SoGt7mZg0VwawgVV20K6TfEQK6kuOb6FG4ymtR2EVuyHzqkUqs6a1OkrwKrHHlDT-fmCSlUNPTgXYZOpMllFMpFz6Q3aOk_/s1320/Christmas-Cake.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="880" data-original-width="1320" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY8X-_u8ZGQxTp9KxMWyaMqdE11R12uT5BNwHgBtM5WvlY-jJ4z0j6R4Xv6An9rVAbNEir1oNDSh7QJd2qDbSWuBBg4SoGt7mZg0VwawgVV20K6TfEQK6kuOb6FG4ymtR2EVuyHzqkUqs6a1OkrwKrHHlDT-fmCSlUNPTgXYZOpMllFMpFz6Q3aOk_/w514-h342/Christmas-Cake.jpeg" width="514" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Link to... <a href="https://thefoodellers.com/en/traditional-irish-christmas-cake-recipe">Irish Christmas Cake recipe</a></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Today, I began the preparation of my Irish Christmas Cake. I did two last year and they turned out well. I will chronicle this year's cake. I assume by now, everyone that knows me also knows that I eat a very low carbohydrate diet. I have been low carb for almost five years now. Christmas Cake is anything but low carb. But, I have a dispensation. It is, I can eat anything I want on the week of Christmas. This is a lovely dispensation. The one week of me eating more carbs does not do much damage to me. I like to enjoy Christmas and fully enjoy this festival time. The Winter Solstice, the ancient festival, Yule, and Christmas, are kept in this house. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The link above is a good recipe for an Irish Christmas Cake. I adjust this recipe to my tastes, so my recipe slightly different, but with this one you do get the general idea. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I will post my recipe and photos of the process as I progress with the project. I suggest that others also make a Christmas Cake. They are a wonderful part of the season. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Cheers, and Merry Christmas. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Barry R McCain</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>Barry R McCainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061685131254246076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338318699173170470.post-74215113579776613992022-10-31T11:03:00.004-05:002022-10-31T11:20:19.995-05:00Notes About Halloween!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisr2fR0ivqRSCRwjAnxcZUm0nqPTfoZDbZMU7MlgNO3spQ0gwVMRKO_iHkUcYXmJ5xmyDV8g39Bg45CGhwmRrGluvAsDxnAeiowEeqH8tAxdLB7WwvDiU5e6BqPJKI5GKp36OVqQibXbKq5BljpSeA3jdk1nw86qxssxJMMfoB9tCNlrVNKta_0EUY/s640/Jack%20O'Lantern%20i.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisr2fR0ivqRSCRwjAnxcZUm0nqPTfoZDbZMU7MlgNO3spQ0gwVMRKO_iHkUcYXmJ5xmyDV8g39Bg45CGhwmRrGluvAsDxnAeiowEeqH8tAxdLB7WwvDiU5e6BqPJKI5GKp36OVqQibXbKq5BljpSeA3jdk1nw86qxssxJMMfoB9tCNlrVNKta_0EUY/s320/Jack%20O'Lantern%20i.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><p>I like Halloween, I always have and still do. Here is some basic data on this wonderful festival. The name Halloween is a contraction of the words 'All Hallows Eve.' This is a name created by Pope Boniface IV who proclaimed it 'All Saints Day' in AD 609. Hallow is an archaic word meaning 'Saint' or 'holy person.' The plural is Hallows. </p><p>From this we get to All Hallows Eve on 31 October and on 1 November we have All Hallows Day. But, there was already an important festival at this time. In the Isles, there was Samhain (said Sow-in). Samhain was a festival that dates to early pagan times and it was an old festival already when Pope Boniface attempted to claim it. In Gaelic, Halloween is still known by its real name, Samhain and Halloween night is Oiche Shamhna (said ee-ah how-na).</p></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Samhain has a folk etymology that goes back to the middle Gaelic word Samain (also said Sow-in) meaning summer. But, that is a pseudo etymology, the real origin is from the Proto Celtic word 'Samoni,'which means 'assembly' in this case the gathering of the living and the dead, which happened on 31 October to the daybreak of 2 November. The 1st century BC Gaulish Coligny calendar marks the date. So even in ancient time the Celts already had Samhain as a major festival time.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Samhain was important to the ancient Celts as it marked the change of season, i.e. the start of winter. At this time the cattle herds went from summer pastures to their winter pastures. Very important to the pastoral people in the Isles. On Samhain people gathered, feasted, held contests, and there were rituals associated with this time. This change from light to dark, from summer to winter, marked a time when the portals between worlds, our world and the Otherworld, opened up. Beings and entities from the Otherworld could and did appear and walk about in our world. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">These Otherworld beings included the Síthe (people of the mounds, also known today as the Fairies), the spirits of the dead, including one's ancestors, and other odd entities associated with the Otherworld. From ancient times to the present, it is in this context, that Samhain and 'Halloween' became the festival that we have today in the 21st century. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-bMQWL4HadeF4BaUg2u6w2ImvuF34FF2ycW76MmxMIq5dgPgiWQbvvtUOTghymObJDExo1--icunwp_t6cPNCpLdyyU1mYm19ynIs8T6w9G8Vz1euCw31qmtstJhQnycj22Mz4XlBL8Pu1HkH5pcc8BP_nK72bu31OlWvWvNg_zy795aCxgJkthHf/s2016/Samhain%2021%2010%202022%201.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-bMQWL4HadeF4BaUg2u6w2ImvuF34FF2ycW76MmxMIq5dgPgiWQbvvtUOTghymObJDExo1--icunwp_t6cPNCpLdyyU1mYm19ynIs8T6w9G8Vz1euCw31qmtstJhQnycj22Mz4XlBL8Pu1HkH5pcc8BP_nK72bu31OlWvWvNg_zy795aCxgJkthHf/w300-h400/Samhain%2021%2010%202022%201.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">carving the Jack o'lantern</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The Gaelic people in Ireland and Scotland had many ways to commemorate Samhain. As already mentioned, the were assemblies, feasts, parties, bonfires, etc. People also practiced seership (divination), and the use of costumes and icons to protect themselves from any malicious entities that came into our world from the Otherworld. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Dagda, the Gaelic Sky Father, had control over time and the passages from our world to the Otherworld. Dagda is a psychopomp, i.e. a guide to souls to and from the place of the Dead. There were, and still are, bonfires lit up hills and mountains to commemorate Samhain. These fires were part of the rituals associated with this movement of entities between the world. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The Gaelic people also made toasts and left offerings to the Síthe. An example is seen in the Hebrides, on the island of the Lewis the population presented 'Seonaidh' with a cup of ale on the eve of Samhain. Seonaidh was a nickname for the Manannán, one of the Síthe, particularly revered in the Hebrides. This practice endured into the 20th century. Seonaidh is a taboo name, i.e. it was thought better not to say Manannán's name out loud. Important members of the Síthe often were known by pet names. Much like the Síthe themselves were often called Na Daoine Maithe (the good people) rather than their real name. </span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaqMixvP_hppFOPo-aEkbXpOmRgaTQS94fLMjCkc1IrCPszhuu1o7JQODULPb4jNOQ8kXu5tDFC2OcGrw2DbnjpJ9RJLrmgLU5YYBmh8cbH0Jlsu2r8mvW2MYNwk6tF3dJkD1CyR05MZHTI5EcbTcqO_3-MllAFbJcWQ1L1J3A-UEJuaiq_0XhuBIz/s639/Dagda.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="518" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaqMixvP_hppFOPo-aEkbXpOmRgaTQS94fLMjCkc1IrCPszhuu1o7JQODULPb4jNOQ8kXu5tDFC2OcGrw2DbnjpJ9RJLrmgLU5YYBmh8cbH0Jlsu2r8mvW2MYNwk6tF3dJkD1CyR05MZHTI5EcbTcqO_3-MllAFbJcWQ1L1J3A-UEJuaiq_0XhuBIz/w324-h400/Dagda.jpg" width="324" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">painting of Dagda by Howard David Johnson</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Samhain/Halloween is a time of heightened spiritual activity, a time when the passages between the worlds opens. It is a time to revere ancestors, to be cognizant of the Síthe.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHjdOouEz5LpifkDvZWbq0nzi0PiwvwjBFgBBqtgb0NJDxTgCj_R6jqDECmO-1hRpgYBciUARXFrO21IdzvVlMBMuSuy7iMBN6V3Ss11GgGStxWkaBZMr0xmcyXlG_RonMdvpMUi8OrAnOuMqcNsl6XT0lKmNPRfT5XFRQ-_M4xQoGSDdjbCMaIrh3/s960/Jack%20&%20Skull%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHjdOouEz5LpifkDvZWbq0nzi0PiwvwjBFgBBqtgb0NJDxTgCj_R6jqDECmO-1hRpgYBciUARXFrO21IdzvVlMBMuSuy7iMBN6V3Ss11GgGStxWkaBZMr0xmcyXlG_RonMdvpMUi8OrAnOuMqcNsl6XT0lKmNPRfT5XFRQ-_M4xQoGSDdjbCMaIrh3/w300-h400/Jack%20&%20Skull%202022.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Guardians of the home </span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Samhain was brought to America via the many Irish and Scottish immigrants that came here. It has evolved into the modern Halloween and has become a world wide festival. It is good to remember its Gaelic origins. Many people, sadly most people, have little or no idea why we have all those curious customs associated with Halloween. The ghosts, the entities of the Otherworld, the feasts, candy, parties, bonfires, etc., have lost their meaning to many in our consumer, materialistic, post modern society. Too many people participate in Halloween not knowing what the festival is and the older spiritual connections. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I have placed a Jack o'lantern out, and I will welcome trick or treaters to my door. Later tonight I will have a fire in my large firepit, have a salutation to Dagda and my ancestors. I wish ever one a wonderful Halloween. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">© 2022 Barry R McCain </span></p><p><br /></p>Barry R McCainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061685131254246076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338318699173170470.post-77206310830340241712022-09-21T15:44:00.002-05:002022-09-21T15:49:00.984-05:00The Autumn Equinox 2022<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9hzYbpmOd5jPhOG96s-YPqBc9UNKNbqmjqZ5VWN6L18lL5YlnBFjwnv4JgrZIorEVQbjTZUsDNYsJr0_1w6USsjjM_D9bwFtFEGv9UaqAcuTX-eMLd-rpTw7IMFbjadTb9x-kG7d8_FuDfCyVehB9IK_CeOSNybbhfo1UNuBVb6_63pObXq4ga0Xn/s325/oak-leaves-autumn-leaves.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="325" data-original-width="240" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9hzYbpmOd5jPhOG96s-YPqBc9UNKNbqmjqZ5VWN6L18lL5YlnBFjwnv4JgrZIorEVQbjTZUsDNYsJr0_1w6USsjjM_D9bwFtFEGv9UaqAcuTX-eMLd-rpTw7IMFbjadTb9x-kG7d8_FuDfCyVehB9IK_CeOSNybbhfo1UNuBVb6_63pObXq4ga0Xn/w295-h400/oak-leaves-autumn-leaves.jpg" width="295" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The Autumn Equinox is on 22 September. Where I live in the wooded hills of north Mississippi, it arrives at 8:30 AM. On the equinox, day and night are of equal length. This even is the start of Autumn. The days begin to grow shorter than the night. It has been noted and celebrated by our ancestors for millenniums. The Harvest Moon is the full moon nearest to the Autumn Equinox. This full moon allowed farmers to use its light to assist in the long hours of harvest. In the Northern Hemisphere our Harvest Moon came on 10 September this year. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">In Gaelic the Autumn Equinox called Cónocht an Fhómhair. This equinox has been celebrated since ancient times. There is a Carn on Loughcrew in County Meath, with a passage grave that has an opening that is aligned with the Autumn Equinox. This structure dates to 3000 BC, some 5000 years plus old. The Carn is called Sliabh na Cailleach and on the morning of the Autumn Equinox a shaft of light enters this ancient tomb. The Autumn Equinox is a day of celebration and ritual. </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-13X3UIl0ZcILA9s9-jj7Wllu50bME6MZNsbp4roc2ICq_qEtfEXEQMdmpWR8O2oEJ_lxRbzgv4EztGNdFzIvgISQdmXAhSqnupGrqtIdK6jK36ObMlv1GUZIciPLPX7KPv_-GizGvUUzrhIaELhk4Fpl5-EroG_99qVxowrPoOcA5wiCFHYOIbB/s1536/IMG011.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1536" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-13X3UIl0ZcILA9s9-jj7Wllu50bME6MZNsbp4roc2ICq_qEtfEXEQMdmpWR8O2oEJ_lxRbzgv4EztGNdFzIvgISQdmXAhSqnupGrqtIdK6jK36ObMlv1GUZIciPLPX7KPv_-GizGvUUzrhIaELhk4Fpl5-EroG_99qVxowrPoOcA5wiCFHYOIbB/w409-h272/IMG011.JPG" width="409" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sliabh na Cailleach</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNqASPelDZRsbxmxZwbo97Ne1h-rjVFnkmSrJN_1EDzIHW4cxiC_DEba20E5D6z1JuAyLLlg9ULb9lftbJVK8ur1bUjvPMWL9YxKoDu6_mBU1xj1SZfvZDgK3qCuocSMOJ27R6RUYexFDnIVnwg5P1I_TNWV4xhhdYGcsnimXvL7wE7iZFyOGvmrOd/s1536/IMG012.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1536" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNqASPelDZRsbxmxZwbo97Ne1h-rjVFnkmSrJN_1EDzIHW4cxiC_DEba20E5D6z1JuAyLLlg9ULb9lftbJVK8ur1bUjvPMWL9YxKoDu6_mBU1xj1SZfvZDgK3qCuocSMOJ27R6RUYexFDnIVnwg5P1I_TNWV4xhhdYGcsnimXvL7wE7iZFyOGvmrOd/w400-h266/IMG012.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">View from road going toward Sliabh na Cailleach</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Autumn Equinox is a time to reflect upon our ancestors, to light a fire, and to enjoy a libation as an offering</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> to the old ones. And.. it begins my favourite time of the year. BTW, it was on Sliabh na Cailleach that I had an incident with the Bean Sí Beara. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">© Barry R McCain 2022</span></p><p><br /></p><p><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 14px;"> </span></p>Barry R McCainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061685131254246076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338318699173170470.post-45636294240606753002022-08-01T11:51:00.005-05:002022-08-01T11:53:37.374-05:00Lúnasa 2022<p> <span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Today is Lúnasa. Traditionally it is on 1 August, which is around the halfway point between the Summer solstice and Autumn equinox. It is also spelled Lughnasadh (an older spelling in Gaelic), in Scots Gaelic spelled Lùnastal, and in Manx Gaelic, Luanistn. </span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Ktso981DX9HTkz-G3_6Y8rHU8_tp3sJ8s7XRcdlGY3DUcUafSWxVwizgr8J54qCHFhxF9GAkQQwmSGtxmWtAHHf7WqWsgo1TTCojteoX189UnoqrRK6ijjs4dbT9yvanbd1k8S5coZPSw9nbAfDPnnABgGIZzZuLca-7r9Xad98aAl1nT4v9ziS2/s584/lugh.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="584" data-original-width="200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Ktso981DX9HTkz-G3_6Y8rHU8_tp3sJ8s7XRcdlGY3DUcUafSWxVwizgr8J54qCHFhxF9GAkQQwmSGtxmWtAHHf7WqWsgo1TTCojteoX189UnoqrRK6ijjs4dbT9yvanbd1k8S5coZPSw9nbAfDPnnABgGIZzZuLca-7r9Xad98aAl1nT4v9ziS2/w220-h640/lugh.gif" width="220" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Lugh</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Lúnasa is an ancient festival date, even by Gaelic standards, and has been celebrated more than a thousand years before the coming of Christianity to the Isles. It dates to pagan times.</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">It was a time of feasts and celebration of the harvest. There were offerings of the 'First Fruits' of the harvest, and a sacrifice of a bull (which was eaten by the people), a ritual dance and play which portrayed the god Lugh seizing the harvest for the tribe. Many activities took place during this time; visits to the holy wells, processions to hill and mountain tops, seer craft, etc.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The festival is linked to Lugh, but it also is connected to Dagda, also known as Crom. Lúnasa is also call Crom Dubh Sunday. I like and keep the old Celtic traditions and festivals. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The festival is still widely practiced in Ireland and Scotland and by some still, in the Gaelic Diaspora. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">It is a rainy day here, so I will light a candle and pour a libation to Dagda, my personal celebration of today.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrEWI30F8UCz66ufUJxNgGBpiTDLPr-PkV7M_9tBZUEYfxWT4mthHweFea7s7ABIWCwKPsg9Zw1NOF6rKa-FfRGfpY28SV2scubbv96sVNF6iXM8sKZHzBO1ewW-KXpGyTum8VWEtqz2MRATnOrQ-esgdkwA8r_YjImUJH7974FNdu6pZWjy7_Q2d0/s304/Druid%20image.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="236" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrEWI30F8UCz66ufUJxNgGBpiTDLPr-PkV7M_9tBZUEYfxWT4mthHweFea7s7ABIWCwKPsg9Zw1NOF6rKa-FfRGfpY28SV2scubbv96sVNF6iXM8sKZHzBO1ewW-KXpGyTum8VWEtqz2MRATnOrQ-esgdkwA8r_YjImUJH7974FNdu6pZWjy7_Q2d0/w311-h400/Druid%20image.jpg" width="311" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A Druid</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Barry R McCainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061685131254246076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338318699173170470.post-11297944925494579522022-02-01T08:07:00.002-06:002022-02-01T08:07:28.395-06:00Imbolc 2022<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjGV_KNFRAb2s8A02yqGZVyT6Ax9HoxteLvDLDFoFuDOZCd7ROcyM5uHO-QiKEPagrsPQwLmBRvyTenoy_MuiYEl2Y9Zux7i-q8Ze8Jh8Huau3UO7_NdXWo-EQl9FD9p_1tqOAeNXC4LY/s1600/Br%25C3%25ADd+cross+i.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="221" data-original-width="228" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjGV_KNFRAb2s8A02yqGZVyT6Ax9HoxteLvDLDFoFuDOZCd7ROcyM5uHO-QiKEPagrsPQwLmBRvyTenoy_MuiYEl2Y9Zux7i-q8Ze8Jh8Huau3UO7_NdXWo-EQl9FD9p_1tqOAeNXC4LY/s320/Br%25C3%25ADd+cross+i.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: large;">A Bríd's Cross<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;">Today, at sunset, marks the beginning of the festival of Imbolc. This a Gaelic festival to honour the beginning of Spring and falls between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. The festival is general to Celtic areas, but is perhaps most celebrated in Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man - which are the Gaelic homelands. It is indeed an ancient celebration and is mentioned in the earliest Gaelic literature, and it was old even at that time. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">In Christian times Imbolc was conflated with the veneration of Saint Bríd. Bríd is also a goddess, a prominent member of the Tuatha Dé, and it is no accident that the Church synchronized Imbolc to Lá Fhéile Bríde (Saint Brid's Day). It was a way to allow the people to continue their ancient custom, but place it into the Judeo-Christian cosmology.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The etymology of Imbolc has several theories, but given its ancient origins, it is most likely from an early proto Celtic word 'embibolgon' which means 'budding.' And, this is when the first buds on early blooming plants start to show the signs of the growing sunlight at this latitude.</span><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAiCQsOX96eUqP9PWMm2AMHNcBW4I8_qfFvM-GIiMq4OkMKNfzTREDCablJ0JBZtQ5uUKtTMVRK7gxiohk84RjxFMGhRfUZofdTOiAUiIaVi8IvlfHWzX-f2NhFKUVdKb4OM36iyJPRck/s1600/Br%25C3%25ADd+saint.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="224" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAiCQsOX96eUqP9PWMm2AMHNcBW4I8_qfFvM-GIiMq4OkMKNfzTREDCablJ0JBZtQ5uUKtTMVRK7gxiohk84RjxFMGhRfUZofdTOiAUiIaVi8IvlfHWzX-f2NhFKUVdKb4OM36iyJPRck/s320/Br%25C3%25ADd+saint.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: large;">Saint Bríd<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;">There are several customs still observed on Imbolc - visits to Holy Wells, where one walks sunwise, known as Deiseil in Gaelic, around the Holy Well and leaves a Clootie on the Faerie Tree (or bush). A Clootie is a piece of cloth tied to a Faerie Tree. The Clootie is to invoke blessings on home, family, clan, and livestock and fields. The practiced is still done to this day. One will also light a fire, candles or a bonfire, and celebrate with a feast and libations. This was also a time when divination is done. </span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: large;">In Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man, there are numerous accounts throughout the centuries to the present, of people celebrating this festival. Saint Bríd is a very thinly Christianized form of the older goddess Bríd and the saint retains many of the attributes of the older goddess.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">So I wish you all a Merry Imbolc and a Happy Saint Bríd's Day. Light a candle tonight after sundown, and have a glass of drink and salute the growing daylight and wish the best to your family and loved ones. </span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">© Barry R McCain </span><br /><br /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Finding-McCains-Scots-Irish-Odyssey/dp/0985587644/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Finding+the+McCains&qid=1580506438&sr=8-1"><span style="font-size: large;">Finding the McCains</span></a>Barry R McCainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061685131254246076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338318699173170470.post-90613509974746238712022-01-06T17:10:00.002-06:002022-01-06T17:17:06.073-06:006 January, The Old Christmas<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0oxQs9OCvzEJV-Ypy2WRatxF87vGsThs_ELGQtz0MDFUnkphKu_xlnVDbmaEzkK-5MElt6rbAmO4fs_3xBrixvIXbhxAkr41HgVP0u72iySvA3SdaGTIw-Q5GOpCMEGVCzU612ubR0-XNiIHCn-NMQmZA7iZvOZ3xGL6KcNUqkpJ7rHSnh11yppce=s3454" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1558" data-original-width="3454" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0oxQs9OCvzEJV-Ypy2WRatxF87vGsThs_ELGQtz0MDFUnkphKu_xlnVDbmaEzkK-5MElt6rbAmO4fs_3xBrixvIXbhxAkr41HgVP0u72iySvA3SdaGTIw-Q5GOpCMEGVCzU612ubR0-XNiIHCn-NMQmZA7iZvOZ3xGL6KcNUqkpJ7rHSnh11yppce=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">6</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">
January is Old Christmas. This is Christmas day by the Julian Calendar.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The
Julian Calendar was developed circa 30 BC and became, more or less, standard by
8 BC. The Julian Calendar had errors and
over time was less accurate. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">In the late 1500s it
was a problem and Pope Gregory XIII changed the calendar to make it match the
solar cycle. The Pope and his advisors, did this by eliminating 11 full days and
thus created the Gregorian Calendar.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana;">Several countries did not accept this
calendar change, notably the Isles did not. Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and England, continued
to use the old Julian Calendar. Finally, given that the calendar was hopelessly
wrong, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana;">the
crown adopted the Gregorian Calendar in 1752.</span></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0in;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">In the 1700s many thousands of Irish, Scots, Scots-Irish, and
English, were settling in the Colonies. Many of these people, the Anglo-Celts,
lived on the frontier. Some did not know of the calendar change and some flat
out refused to use the new calendar, so for many early Americans Christmas Day
fell on 6 January rather than 25 December. By the 1800s most people accepted
the new calendar and used it, a few did not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the Southern Uplands and Backsttlements, some people continued to use
the Old Christmas, as they felt it was the real Christmas. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Even in the 20<sup>th</sup> Century some people still kept the
Old Christmas. It was my grandmother
McCain that told me about the Old Christmas and she kept it and the new one,
meaning she observed by 25 December and 6 January, as Christmas. I always liked that. I am keeping up the tradition and I also keep
both Christmases. </span><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p></p>Barry R McCainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061685131254246076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338318699173170470.post-51880116269143631982021-12-24T20:31:00.002-06:002022-10-10T14:13:31.318-05:00The Two Christmas Cake Finished<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhewrTRhtRZQPhb8OkPF-jWukqcqgayW7LTXO1HK4r18fxf0YOPbyQVM0cmoDkP9qwuUppKKyNJWEx9h6wuz99avz3BLR7sINiOnzt1sXc8XxnstmFLM_qUgV6hYk6EAFyuEFcIY-A3USueU9R-X_b53YjRY_cpLVrABSbfAjwHA5m0wdi4-Yvip6B8=s2016" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhewrTRhtRZQPhb8OkPF-jWukqcqgayW7LTXO1HK4r18fxf0YOPbyQVM0cmoDkP9qwuUppKKyNJWEx9h6wuz99avz3BLR7sINiOnzt1sXc8XxnstmFLM_qUgV6hYk6EAFyuEFcIY-A3USueU9R-X_b53YjRY_cpLVrABSbfAjwHA5m0wdi4-Yvip6B8=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Here are the two Christmas cakes with the icing. One has royal icing and the other fondant. I wanted to do a more ambitious decorating job, but I did not have the things I needed to do so. </span></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjc4Xgk7HqmOhIHpbZ0diP2eMR8ZAfrcfVvIoEW0B0yb4P7J_M643PQnw02pT1uEXpKQBkJhfkH-2HEGTWVuCiVx9VwbTR4042nu6M3Zp682SbBrxrHgyydeOP4hm2Cbqnj-_9T9nW-sNxB75tE2EHSLWrXBBy4OWxi2nTjo99cZ9_WvvEJrLR7jtdg=s2016" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjc4Xgk7HqmOhIHpbZ0diP2eMR8ZAfrcfVvIoEW0B0yb4P7J_M643PQnw02pT1uEXpKQBkJhfkH-2HEGTWVuCiVx9VwbTR4042nu6M3Zp682SbBrxrHgyydeOP4hm2Cbqnj-_9T9nW-sNxB75tE2EHSLWrXBBy4OWxi2nTjo99cZ9_WvvEJrLR7jtdg=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The royal icing one, that's the plain one on the right, has been served. It is excellent. Success. </span></p>Barry R McCainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061685131254246076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338318699173170470.post-51192937216384615762021-12-21T10:25:00.004-06:002021-12-21T10:29:02.233-06:00Winter Solstice and Io Saturnalia!!!<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLLrOoQvEPtGMY2TeJbXbN5do-1YIPOGLCYp3eKJwd61XIvuyuQu-2Po_-02sw6wPZSIPEuH-rb74Eeg214KSESyIv3GhqZX4I1ASDdEuor2ThwApZ3UB51pg6u60QTLXfTMyrafAIER79bDhG20_kUC6BoQwkpYLquHE7_9AdrlvnOaAm2TEbRYs0=s1200" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="1200" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLLrOoQvEPtGMY2TeJbXbN5do-1YIPOGLCYp3eKJwd61XIvuyuQu-2Po_-02sw6wPZSIPEuH-rb74Eeg214KSESyIv3GhqZX4I1ASDdEuor2ThwApZ3UB51pg6u60QTLXfTMyrafAIER79bDhG20_kUC6BoQwkpYLquHE7_9AdrlvnOaAm2TEbRYs0=w400-h299" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Father Christmas looking a bit like Saturn here</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">Today is the Winter Solstice. This is the astronomical first day of Winter and it is the shortest day of the year, in the Northern Hemisphere. The Winter Solstice has been celebrated and venerated for many thousands of years. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">On the winter's solstice the sun is low in the sky. The sun's path begins northward again and will reach the most northerly point on the summer solstice. If you step out at noon today your shadow will be the longest of the year. </span></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBfh_yjeNh0OY2dt7zS_BNsCFYrfS2cgGoT5mSysCs3FxTHYiDpMcwhfUppHbFRNbDoQuqAGoMTm_Pnn6Hz7PfTB8zCyke_Ir-ajoVk3nBF8bImXUQC5V734rRt8g1p3YXIeKtUD6onaE/s474/Holly+and+candle.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="474" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBfh_yjeNh0OY2dt7zS_BNsCFYrfS2cgGoT5mSysCs3FxTHYiDpMcwhfUppHbFRNbDoQuqAGoMTm_Pnn6Hz7PfTB8zCyke_Ir-ajoVk3nBF8bImXUQC5V734rRt8g1p3YXIeKtUD6onaE/s320/Holly+and+candle.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Saturnalia Holly and Candle</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Celtic, Germanic, Slavic, Hellenic, etc., people all celebrated the Winter Solstice. </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Due to the Roman conquest of most of western Europe the Roman Winter Solstice traditions survived in Britain and in much of Europe. In the Roman world the Winter Solstice festival was Saturnalia. Many of the traditions of Saturnalia have endured and have been assimilated into our own Christmas customs. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The giving of gifts, decorating homes with evergreen boughs, ivy and holly. Candles were given as gifts and used to celebrate the season. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Saturnalia is named after the god Saturn. </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">The etymology of Saturn is from the Proto Indo European word </span><i style="font-family: verdana;">sewH(r)</i><span style="font-family: verdana;"> which means 'seed, bring forth.' Saturn is connected to agriculture, and he is often conflated with the Greek Chronos. The two entities come from a single Indo-European spiritual cosmology concept. While it is a different topic, there is a link between the Spirit of Christmas, or Father Christmas, and the traditions and rituals from Saturnalia. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">During Saturnalia a man was selected to portray Saturn. He was the king of Saturnalia and he encouraged the activities and brought seasonal cheer to the people. He is remarkably like our Father Christmas. </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEic-fz-9qtdhiqFC8zLJZ6jfmL72Mpug2NovK96aKyDTNAh6hAK8OqG-4qjk89GhkOaI_PCA7BVpchO9QYPz-uUsdh6PFnFZC_4a4sdjznxlqDXb6OErBmtc0W3iRl3dGdFnNo4tTIgJqVvqRauwKVeVplRECWeIKtJvcEG9Y6ZeB-owrJY4HFsV1gX=s567" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="567" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEic-fz-9qtdhiqFC8zLJZ6jfmL72Mpug2NovK96aKyDTNAh6hAK8OqG-4qjk89GhkOaI_PCA7BVpchO9QYPz-uUsdh6PFnFZC_4a4sdjznxlqDXb6OErBmtc0W3iRl3dGdFnNo4tTIgJqVvqRauwKVeVplRECWeIKtJvcEG9Y6ZeB-owrJY4HFsV1gX=w400-h244" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The proxy for Saturn at the festival</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">During Saturnalia people would enthusiastically proclaim </span><i style="font-family: verdana;">Io Saturnalia</i><span style="font-family: verdana;"> to each other. Even in medieval times Io Saturnalia was a common greeting at Christmas time. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Saturnalia included the serving of roast pork, which was the traditional sacrifice to the god Saturn. The festival ran from 17 to 23 December. On 22 of December gifts were given. Common gifts included small figurines called <i>sigillaria</i>, combs, hats, lyres, hunting knives, oil lamps, candles, perfumes, wine cups, spoons, writing tablets, dice and other gaming pieces, etc. There were also the Saturnalia treats such as cake. The Saturnalia cake included nuts and fruit and that tradition also has survived in the form of our Christmas Cake.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">By the late 4th century, the Christian churches extended their control over Europe and they chose the date of 25 December as their Christmas. This allowed them to incorporate the celebration of Christ's birth with the still popular Saturnalia and other pagan festivals around Europe. It was a clever bit of marketing you might say, and the old traditional pagan Winter Solstice festivals were now linked to the Christian holiday. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The decorating of homes with winter greenery, lighting of candles, the eating and drinking together, and giving and receiving</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> gifts, are all traditions we still carry out. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, a Wonderful Winter Solstice, a Merry Christmas, and also Io Saturnalia, to you all. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">© Barry R McCain 2021</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p>Barry R McCainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061685131254246076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338318699173170470.post-13413336957216273312021-12-20T13:30:00.003-06:002022-10-10T14:14:41.234-05:00McCain Christmas Cake, an Update<p> <span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The McCain Christmas Cake... an update, the marzipan tops put on. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiS4GhYUdfyDaLs48x-NL9XRuuEwmoGeWWJwzHksTZsNrr_AWuEuu5PA_CCo1hnLu_imAihP2--mvm3VmNUFYLp201eo_OWJOTPVFEjJ1jEjjbIdbmB0bx2_71sDWE-hu_ACl9kXsFGUgohg5lyICAzk0LxzOzs921UxrH4aFCcCZJo8TMWu5mIVPyb=s640" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiS4GhYUdfyDaLs48x-NL9XRuuEwmoGeWWJwzHksTZsNrr_AWuEuu5PA_CCo1hnLu_imAihP2--mvm3VmNUFYLp201eo_OWJOTPVFEjJ1jEjjbIdbmB0bx2_71sDWE-hu_ACl9kXsFGUgohg5lyICAzk0LxzOzs921UxrH4aFCcCZJo8TMWu5mIVPyb=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Two photos of my work this morning. I made the marzipan and placed it on the now cured fruit cake. I had never made marzipan, nor had I ever placed it on a cake. The first one a little ragged, but still nice looking. The second one nice and neat as I learned from the first one. I am satisfied with them.</span></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiJXNbnG1hnUdIiAl9nyU-fXKfXc9Ubu0iw2cccfDVguXEB88N7smlhOqb29NEA9jQPZUzyzJJ2EUJfTu0HlXUW1NBQewE4zuUXPa3UwhHF_kaqsL_cFmA1ROSuBPm0Gh1WDogYw9qi9Ov9Bd1NAZUslaqVAXfTxmKHgPghjE1kJUewtj6hSU_f_oy1=s640" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiJXNbnG1hnUdIiAl9nyU-fXKfXc9Ubu0iw2cccfDVguXEB88N7smlhOqb29NEA9jQPZUzyzJJ2EUJfTu0HlXUW1NBQewE4zuUXPa3UwhHF_kaqsL_cFmA1ROSuBPm0Gh1WDogYw9qi9Ov9Bd1NAZUslaqVAXfTxmKHgPghjE1kJUewtj6hSU_f_oy1=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I had a wee taste of the marzipan and it is excellent. I made it from fine ground almonds, powdered sugar (i.e. icing sugar), egg whites (pasteurized), almond extract, and a small amount of vanilla extract. The marzipan was easy to make in fact. The two cakes will be iced with royal icing in a couple days, with some seasonal decoration a top. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">© Barry R McCain 2021</span></p>Barry R McCainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061685131254246076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338318699173170470.post-25682846871331829072021-12-09T18:30:00.005-06:002022-10-10T14:16:06.380-05:00McCain Christmas Cake<p><br /></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_f0tzUJke9XhYd9KpJXbrOVqPxtS6kxof0zQVMKAGgrH9Ar7z7-6nE0nHn68RyXwS64wpNnfBAbUZNV7U4p9FhdQjNYnXR_-afH7C39GrQ-SQYUHa5-EMmzLlDh9YXW1qng75kRcDVj3xlbw73IjfKm6XfY0BOJCiw0yofBZnS0jEdtcDZjma_fAa=s2048" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1529" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_f0tzUJke9XhYd9KpJXbrOVqPxtS6kxof0zQVMKAGgrH9Ar7z7-6nE0nHn68RyXwS64wpNnfBAbUZNV7U4p9FhdQjNYnXR_-afH7C39GrQ-SQYUHa5-EMmzLlDh9YXW1qng75kRcDVj3xlbw73IjfKm6XfY0BOJCiw0yofBZnS0jEdtcDZjma_fAa=w277-h371" width="277" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A Christmas Cake From Several Years Ago</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">This is my Irish Christmas Cake. I had several requests for its recipe. However, I am one of those type of cooks that does not use precise measurements. In addition, I am a very good cook of meats and main dishes. I am expert level at smoking beef, pork, etc. I rarely cook anything sweet and so my experience at cooking cakes is that of a rank amateur. Be that as it may, here is my version of the Irish Christmas Cake. This type of cake is a fruit and nut cake, which is typical in the Isles (i.e. the UK and Ireland). There are many variations of it, this is a type I have eaten in Ireland. It is still made in Ireland and popular there. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJBOCRM4t6wzD_5u617cnoa67pPppOlbhCVw2pFRVD1AEOCLuG-5oEQ4i_mosslfolvimrfmVlYAzUbETNAfeUx3O9E9FXovFR7HOWAZ3w62MW1TV6LfYFxlJmibyDoJWKsOd2kLrz4a1_2lwPW9GsLgkSYDba-DFnPMsT9gypBl3P5GivT-VTEtiz=s2016" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJBOCRM4t6wzD_5u617cnoa67pPppOlbhCVw2pFRVD1AEOCLuG-5oEQ4i_mosslfolvimrfmVlYAzUbETNAfeUx3O9E9FXovFR7HOWAZ3w62MW1TV6LfYFxlJmibyDoJWKsOd2kLrz4a1_2lwPW9GsLgkSYDba-DFnPMsT9gypBl3P5GivT-VTEtiz=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The ingredients prior to mixing<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">You soak the fruit, raisins, currants, nuts, lemon zest, orange zest, is a glass bowl to which you add at least a 1/2 cup of Irish whiskey. I also add vanilla</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> and almond extract. I let this concoction soak over night. </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">The next day I sat out the eggs, butter, and brown sugar, as I like to work with them at room temperature. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">I cream the butter and sugar well, then add the eggs one at a time. I then fold in the fruit, raisin, and nuts.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I add the spices to the flour along with a pinch of salt. I then fold in the flour to the well mixed butter, sugar, and eggs. This makes a fairly thick batter. If you feel the batter is too thick, just add some Irish whiskey to it. </span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEju6P39ZJcNoAFkVBohVu45gVF-qFg0euavNudoUkzjaE-hxbdurtWT2qzpxvGNvgM3PORIPIYMelF6KHIg4CFk3DPzGp_Mi4SwwOXO_370-TSEJLW5PFpo3wSw6VJq1EUuMGp5dmcIK7Ri8znwURFPfDq6j9BB2AyrwWOCYFKjNMXTIEhNxrqsmXyC=s2016" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEju6P39ZJcNoAFkVBohVu45gVF-qFg0euavNudoUkzjaE-hxbdurtWT2qzpxvGNvgM3PORIPIYMelF6KHIg4CFk3DPzGp_Mi4SwwOXO_370-TSEJLW5PFpo3wSw6VJq1EUuMGp5dmcIK7Ri8znwURFPfDq6j9BB2AyrwWOCYFKjNMXTIEhNxrqsmXyC=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The batter<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I use a springform cake pan. I grease the pan with coconut oil, which is thick like butter or lard. Then I double line the pan with parchment paper. I cut rounds for the bottom</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">, and strips for the sides. I use more of the coconut oil to 'glue' the paper down and make it behave. </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEipUZFz3XWFIbwiXFuf4_IATGLTNMRjuaHDrwfG8JJC60kSWq2aHvfn2fDgJ8Kz6My5SKdA8hokU0iXmTYt0T_O0deWuNvlXBT1jDry6nggCl8UJwwVHR-svtLBzQ6f2DmuRezd5ngc8CvJB5g0UYmRzmpU0K1u6oMaIjteWQav4N0qnkVbPNLp9035=s2016" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEipUZFz3XWFIbwiXFuf4_IATGLTNMRjuaHDrwfG8JJC60kSWq2aHvfn2fDgJ8Kz6My5SKdA8hokU0iXmTYt0T_O0deWuNvlXBT1jDry6nggCl8UJwwVHR-svtLBzQ6f2DmuRezd5ngc8CvJB5g0UYmRzmpU0K1u6oMaIjteWQav4N0qnkVbPNLp9035=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Work area, with my notes and Springform pan</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">I then put the batter in the pan, smooth it down and make it even. Then I put more parchment paper around the outside of the pan (don't need to grease this of course) so that it is several inches above the top of the springform pan and I tie a piece of twine around this to hold it there. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I place this in the oven. The cooking temperature is 275 Fahrenheit. Depending on your oven, the cake will cook for 2 1/2 to 3 hours. You test it by sticking a wooden toothpick in it to see if it comes out clean. You should be able to tell if it is done just by looking at the cake. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhsS9X9XITuaeUdbLVH3tQp-2ltj5rMEr3unwI5p9WP6EmNGqKYRXbGyKOk1gB9jKHxapzGw5ugyrrpKB79C9jGRvbBIO5A5WLZEPX9Y67L7C9cnBRfEJCdPZ-IIm0GLlv6sXD0w4xR1cTPX0pd9EQjCWJGyP2Lyo2Zbtw1xz_Y8ddRxZDvk4aNU4Yh=s2016" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhsS9X9XITuaeUdbLVH3tQp-2ltj5rMEr3unwI5p9WP6EmNGqKYRXbGyKOk1gB9jKHxapzGw5ugyrrpKB79C9jGRvbBIO5A5WLZEPX9Y67L7C9cnBRfEJCdPZ-IIm0GLlv6sXD0w4xR1cTPX0pd9EQjCWJGyP2Lyo2Zbtw1xz_Y8ddRxZDvk4aNU4Yh=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ready to go into the Oven</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_v0TpTHOtdIvRbb2LwGluDMMu2xQDw0vdv7i98nqAVRQSxb03XlRPWHggRzYbvTDEdYCMTOc8tpO1goGUGY7HM-eO2gdGLQWWRnw0Wts0jZZgGme4SWKvURaM9dGl-jqC_GSKYdSHKpi_SneULd0TGjf35fDN23Ueig8X81DNHikkO9GXY2pX638p=s2016" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_v0TpTHOtdIvRbb2LwGluDMMu2xQDw0vdv7i98nqAVRQSxb03XlRPWHggRzYbvTDEdYCMTOc8tpO1goGUGY7HM-eO2gdGLQWWRnw0Wts0jZZgGme4SWKvURaM9dGl-jqC_GSKYdSHKpi_SneULd0TGjf35fDN23Ueig8X81DNHikkO9GXY2pX638p=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Cake done and cooling</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Let it cool a bit, then remove all the parchment paper. Carefully, flip the cake so the bottom is upright. I use a wooden chopstick to poke a good ten holes into the cake, I then do the first feeding, i.e. add about a 1/2 cup of whiskey. I then wrap the cake in parchment paper and tinfoil and place it in a cake carrier or cake serving dish, the type with a top on it. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">You can feed the cake each week, or more if you like. This makes for a moist cake and a wonderful flavour. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">The two cakes I recently made are now being seasoned, i.e. fed whiskey. I will not decorate them until the week of Christmas. Putting icing on this type of Christmas Cake is optional. It is fine to leave it as is, but this year I wanted to do something special. One cake will have a marzipan and royal icing top, the other cake will have a marzipan and fondant top. I will update this blog post with photos of the decorated cakes. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Ingredients</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">: </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">2 1/2 cups of fruit; I used diced orange peel and apricots on one cake and diced orange peel, apricots, and dried figs on the other. I used the pre diced orange peel you get from your grocery store. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">1 1/2 cups of raisins and or currants.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">1 cup of blanched slivered almonds.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">zest of an Orange and zest of a Lemon and the juice of each. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">add whiskey and let soak over night. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">2 1/8 cups of all purpose flour, sifted. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">1 cup of almond flour, sifted. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">Salt, a healthy pinch</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Spices... All Spice, Nutmeg, ground Cloves, Ginger, Cinnamon, and Mace. I used at least a heaping teaspoon of each. Probably more of the All Spice, Nutmeg, and Ginger. I did not use as much Cinnamon as it can drown out the other spices I feel. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">5 eggs</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">2 sticks of butter, use Kerrygold if you have it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">1 cup of Brown Sugar, some recipes use more than this, more like 1 and 1/4 cup, but I feel like this is too much. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Irish Whiskey as needed </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The history of the Christmas Cake is interesting. First, there is a lot of speculation and theories on the internet and in print on this subject. I will offer a short history here. First of all, the tradition of a cake presentation for the Winter Solstice is old. A cake was done for Saturnalia in ancient Rome. This festival celebrated the Winter Solstice and was dedicated to the god Saturn (i.e. Cronos). The cake was a fruit and nut cake, probably much like the Italian Pan Forte. A bean was baked into the cake and who ever received the piece with the bean was pronounced Lord of the festivities. He took the place of Saturn that is to say. Over the years Saturnalia morphed into Christmas, but the Saturnalia Cake, or now the Christmas Cake, tradition endured and continued. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">This tradition is related to other 'cakes' that are also called a King Cake and a 12th Night Cake. The Christmas Cake, 12th Night Cake, and King Cake, while different in function these days, do share a common origin. The Saturnalia Cake lived on and was given a Christian context. By the 1500s, well to do folk in the Isles were producing a cake much like our modern Christmas Cake, a dense cake, with fruit, raisins, nuts, etc., and was often topped with a marzipan layer and icing. During Victorian times the Christmas Cake became the institution it is today. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Merry Christmas and Io Saturnalia and enjoy your Christmas Cake this year. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">© Barry R McCain 2021 </span></p>Barry R McCainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061685131254246076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338318699173170470.post-88983043497003863752021-11-05T18:39:00.008-05:002021-11-06T10:29:56.119-05:00Cracker, An Etymology<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWSuHfArZjDAQ0OXd-3CMvzuq1PXelxe5yOtyE_r9C4VFZZDXZ4vsaXZC_8ctgnJrKSF-niaUeS7BPlMUmWujiWp8pIo4YvwZN5VxNfAsSp8xKLpqicG2eTD7xNpk4XGHtUmVO9Kql2N0/s1600/Lonesome+Dove.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWSuHfArZjDAQ0OXd-3CMvzuq1PXelxe5yOtyE_r9C4VFZZDXZ4vsaXZC_8ctgnJrKSF-niaUeS7BPlMUmWujiWp8pIo4YvwZN5VxNfAsSp8xKLpqicG2eTD7xNpk4XGHtUmVO9Kql2N0/w554-h312/Lonesome+Dove.jpg" width="554" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">From Lonesome Dove, Gus McCrae and Woodrow Call, both men carry Gaelic origin surnames, and are archetypal 'Cracker' cowboys</span><span style="font-size: small;">.<br /> </span></td></tr></tbody></table><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;"><b>What</b> is the etymology of the term Cracker?</span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;"> </span></span></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;">We all know what a Cracker was and still is.</span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;"> It is a</span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;"> Southern Anglo-Celt from </span></span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; text-align: justify;">the backcountry and Uplands. It is a historical term, but still in use today. Many were of Scots-Irish origin, but there were also a lot of Crackers who were Irish or Scots in origin.</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; text-align: justify;">The term appears in use by the mid-1700s in Colonial America.</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; text-align: justify;"> An </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; text-align: justify;">eighteenth-century definition of what a Cracker provides a good description of one from an anglocentric perspective; in 1776 a Colonial official wrote to the earl of Dartmouth:</span></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 76.5pt; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 76.5pt 10pt 0.5in;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; line-height: 27.6px;">I should explain to your Lordship what is meant by Crackers, a name they have got from being great boasters; they are a lawless set of rascals on the frontiers of Virginia, Maryland, the Carolinas, and Georgia, who often change their place of abode.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: left;">Cracker is still a much used term. Dubious sources, such as Wikipedia, tell us it is a “usually derogatory term for white people.” Wikipedia also offers a proposed etymology of the term coming from the sound of the “whips” used by Southern whites on their livestock. Obviously, this is total nonsense and shows a complete ignorance of Irish and Scottish culture. </div></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">The real story is more complex and comes from Ireland.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">The original Crackers are associated with free range cattle and were drovers that lived in the backcountry. The original Crackers were generally from Ireland, and as we have mentions, primarily of Scots-Irish ancestry.</span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">That much is on firm ground, but the etymology of the word Cracker is more difficult to deduce, but I believe it is also linked to Ulster.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNtrmXLylI5RZzp1XdgLnAIMk1OvkhJpqv8Yf_R1ksQPRUAur8X-zCkxGZqiZT1FemCGRsjhqrfmIQmdgnLPleJtGaIj8_adcY5QNsYPVVerQIbmF8D5u7zkRsJMG29Q-sXuIp6WNBD94/s1600/Crackers+by+Frederic+Remington.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNtrmXLylI5RZzp1XdgLnAIMk1OvkhJpqv8Yf_R1ksQPRUAur8X-zCkxGZqiZT1FemCGRsjhqrfmIQmdgnLPleJtGaIj8_adcY5QNsYPVVerQIbmF8D5u7zkRsJMG29Q-sXuIp6WNBD94/w448-h347/Crackers+by+Frederic+Remington.jpg" width="448" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">two Florida Crackers by Frederic Remington</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>There are several possible etymology origins, the foremost is the Gaelic word </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Creachadóir. It is an Ulster Gaelic and Scots Gaelic (Creachadair) word meaning, “raider and freebooter,” but also associated with the free range cattle drovers in Ulster and the wider Gaelic world. </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Cracker is the anglicized form of Creachadóir. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">A related word is Creach (Ulster Gaelic) which means a “herd of cattle,” and also a “Cattle raid.”</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">You will also find the word Greigh in Scots Gaelic meaning a “herd of cattle.”</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">There is also the Scots-Gaelic word Gréighear meaning a “farm grieve.”</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">(someone who took care of livestock). With all these Gaelic words, there is a connection, i.e. to cattle and cowboys. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Having stated my opinion of the etymology, I will also mention another etymology for Cracker. However, I do not think it is correct. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; text-align: justify;">Another suggested etymology which appears in media is Cracaire. This Gaelic word means “talker” or a person that chats a lot and is related to the modern Irish word “Craic” meaning “a gathering where people talk, have refreshments, and have a good time.”</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; text-align: justify;">As far as I can tell, the use of Cracaire and Craic are more recent in their use in the Gaelic language and so this is not the etymology of Cracker. And, is also not remotely related to cattle and cattle drovers. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTrPA3CkygGTBaGNEep76y0LyPTzpB1VSaX822t_1V_I9Pj14qkrsEG8iW10_VA_QcH4mKYwRCXnPJrl62GN3oPQvyKPPMr59kFjpiTxlDod3aqdqYLn0rx_gGETkwUrFROmbtaMkx79g/s1600/Frederic+Remington+Arizona+Cowboy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="465" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTrPA3CkygGTBaGNEep76y0LyPTzpB1VSaX822t_1V_I9Pj14qkrsEG8iW10_VA_QcH4mKYwRCXnPJrl62GN3oPQvyKPPMr59kFjpiTxlDod3aqdqYLn0rx_gGETkwUrFROmbtaMkx79g/w349-h465/Frederic+Remington+Arizona+Cowboy.jpg" width="349" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Arizona Cowboy, Frederic Remington</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The salient element is the linking of Crackers to cattle and the drovers, or cowboys.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Creach was anglicized as Creacht and was used by the Elizabethan English to describe both a herd of cattle and the drovers (cowboys) of the herd.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">These men were also used for raiding parties.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">So in actual use a Creacht was both a free range cowboy and raider. Creachadóir is a related word is specifically the word for the cowboy. So Creach and Creachadóir both relate to Cracker. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In modern Gaelic usage the older meaning of free</span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">range cowboy has been dropped and now the definition is “raider and freebooter, ” but in the historical context a cowboy and raider were the same thing. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">We are left with Cracker being an anglicized form of a Gaelic origin word. It could be Creachadóir or it could be from Creach with an English 'er' suffix added. The two words and concepts are then related and mean cowboys and cattle. I think Creachadóir to be the best etymology. Creachadóir in use in Ireland and Scotland, anglicized as Cracker and brought to the Colonies in the 1700s, by the large influx of Ulster origin settlers to the Southern Uplands and Backsettlements. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wyIHww2tKjXwvrdb3QqTQS4syXF57cKDWfLr7qE_d2EUArX-HHLq78YypQZd5vZgLOMCzi2DNrREVrhYJpDf9-nn3Cudxw2rLLJIzYYl1JqJkb0-AlW5SMYhyHWDW9LuAs45Fb3w4wg/s1600/Frederic+Remington+cowboy+II.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wyIHww2tKjXwvrdb3QqTQS4syXF57cKDWfLr7qE_d2EUArX-HHLq78YypQZd5vZgLOMCzi2DNrREVrhYJpDf9-nn3Cudxw2rLLJIzYYl1JqJkb0-AlW5SMYhyHWDW9LuAs45Fb3w4wg/w387-h516/Frederic+Remington+cowboy+II.jpg" width="387" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Cowboy, Frederic Remington</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Despite Wikipedia and the other pop media, Cracker is not considered derogatory among the Crackers living in the South today.</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The opposite is true, it is an often used term of ethnic self-description and one of pride.</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Crackers are considered independent, self-reliant, to act in honorable ways, to be adept at hunting, fishing, to be proficient with weapons, and will not suffer rude behaviour from people.</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">As the Southern Crackers settled Texas and the Southwest they became the Cowboy, which was just a cultural continuum of their unique lifestyle.</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /><br /><span>© 2021 Barry R McCain </span><br /><br /><span><span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Link: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Finding-McCains-Scots-Irish-Odyssey/dp/0985587644/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1544900821&sr=8-1&keywords=Finding+the+McCains">Finding the McCains</a></span></span> </span></span></div></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span>Barry R McCainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061685131254246076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338318699173170470.post-7094998152640513122021-10-07T11:11:00.005-05:002021-10-07T12:35:46.972-05:00An Fhéasóg Gheal<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUajT16XS58ku0zHSiBIIDxKiyDT3_iUHtfY_CKEBxnBnnsmQ0LNqSWTlKT7DI8lt1YuuAkOTCt1vh_DlU1_PFY3qM_jCt7r6KkGE-5WN8UuXIorP6m3dq5l1BMsow6LYjmTHZ4aCitw/s1032/White+Beard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="959" data-original-width="1032" height="405" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUajT16XS58ku0zHSiBIIDxKiyDT3_iUHtfY_CKEBxnBnnsmQ0LNqSWTlKT7DI8lt1YuuAkOTCt1vh_DlU1_PFY3qM_jCt7r6KkGE-5WN8UuXIorP6m3dq5l1BMsow6LYjmTHZ4aCitw/w437-h405/White+Beard.jpg" width="437" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Barry R McCainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061685131254246076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338318699173170470.post-22544642370483761722021-10-06T19:55:00.002-05:002021-10-07T09:45:19.199-05:00 THERE are more worlds than one<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyCCdeO7xNbV_MES07iHVXuzNWvLdQdOoZ7LsSLW2xXGdjGxnYFGjSwZVnE7cacHpSt2uNZUlxpoYwubM8gWD0WJDVerZMokRXkHfya4WxPc56nrHS8-jkdcjVUHjzWg94zAbNi9D_0gA/s1208/Alan+Lee+Blodeuwedd.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1208" data-original-width="956" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyCCdeO7xNbV_MES07iHVXuzNWvLdQdOoZ7LsSLW2xXGdjGxnYFGjSwZVnE7cacHpSt2uNZUlxpoYwubM8gWD0WJDVerZMokRXkHfya4WxPc56nrHS8-jkdcjVUHjzWg94zAbNi9D_0gA/w329-h416/Alan+Lee+Blodeuwedd.jpg" width="329" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">THERE are more worlds than one, and in many ways</span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> they are unlike each other. But joy and sorrow, or, in</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> other words, good and
evil, are not absent in their</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> degree from any of the worlds, for wherever there
is</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> life there is action, and action is but the expression of</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> one or other of
these qualities.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="background: white;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> After this
Earth there is the world of the Shí.</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="background: white;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Beyond it again lies the Many-Coloured
Land. Next</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="background: white;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> comes the Land of Wonder, and after that the Land of</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="background: white;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Promise awaits
us. You will cross clay to get into the</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="background: white;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Shí; you will cross water to attain the
Many-Coloured</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="background: white;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Land; fire must be passed ere the Land of Wonder is</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="background: white;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> attained, but
we do not know what will be crossed for</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="background: white;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> the fourth world.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="background: white; color: black; line-height: 107%;">James Stephens, from his story
‘Becuma of the White Skin.'</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="background: white; color: black; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Barry+R+McCain&ref=nb_sb_noss_2" target="_blank"><br /></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="background: white; color: black; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Barry+R+McCain&ref=nb_sb_noss_2" target="_blank">Barry R McCain</a></span></span></p><p></p>Barry R McCainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061685131254246076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338318699173170470.post-63918745101969366902021-09-24T14:24:00.005-05:002021-10-07T09:45:58.029-05:00Sarah Pearl McCain née Tweedy<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0sW20mCLCgMW-DpNCnfKiuoav_l626R_sKRfUT242M8lLu85lCSu334T3EWYxRq1lQiLdHWwZ7sMSrOUZef9L_oICAwwl_9xMLFga1jkXI_-tZ8LTi2p18hEu1AMmD6FTSZTEQ110tNA/s1475/Sarah+Pearl+Tweedy+seated+III.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1475" data-original-width="933" height="519" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0sW20mCLCgMW-DpNCnfKiuoav_l626R_sKRfUT242M8lLu85lCSu334T3EWYxRq1lQiLdHWwZ7sMSrOUZef9L_oICAwwl_9xMLFga1jkXI_-tZ8LTi2p18hEu1AMmD6FTSZTEQ110tNA/w328-h519/Sarah+Pearl+Tweedy+seated+III.jpg" width="328" /></a></div><br /> <span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Sarah Pearl McCain née Tweedy... born 1883 and passed in 1962. My grandmother, she gave me insight into another world. As I like to put it, she read Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories as they came out. Being with a person that grew up in the 1800s was interesting for me. The language was different, the intonation different, the concepts different. Of course, I just liked it, only many years later did I realise what a special time that was in my life and what a valuable gift she gave me. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Her house (obviously) had no TV and there was a radio, but it was rarely turned on. She had the Second Sight, as do many in her Tweedy family, both past and present. I learned much from her.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Barry-R-McCain/e/B008PUORK6?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1632511200&sr=8-1">Barry R McCain</a> </span></p>Barry R McCainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061685131254246076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338318699173170470.post-24299125680388473202021-09-22T08:55:00.009-05:002021-10-07T09:46:54.833-05:00Autumnal Equinox 22 September 2021<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOzjDCF62u094pJUNznaMd1EXC6RD9YTk0dW0gJTiG-MWgFKULm_uj5Zng2-58AdJT9DRLx4xWqUtxI12Wg7QD26YwKKPVhR8QQnvVQHHctzFUyDwU6WI5_XAiLqPpLM5gj4_TDsHaSkQ/s1536/IMG006.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1536" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOzjDCF62u094pJUNznaMd1EXC6RD9YTk0dW0gJTiG-MWgFKULm_uj5Zng2-58AdJT9DRLx4xWqUtxI12Wg7QD26YwKKPVhR8QQnvVQHHctzFUyDwU6WI5_XAiLqPpLM5gj4_TDsHaSkQ/w532-h354/IMG006.JPG" width="532" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sliabh Na Caillí Meath</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Today is the Autumnal Equinox. The begins the Fall season in the Northern Hemisphere. The days grow shorter and there is more night than day. In Gaelic it is called Cónacht Fómhair and it is the last quarter day of the year. The shortening evenings will bring us cooler temperatures and we await the darker, colder days of Winter. It is a time for reflection and remembrance of our ancestors. The green leaves turn brown, bronze, yellow, red and russet, and remind us of the great cycle. It is an enjoyable time of the year. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">On Sliabh Na Caillí, in County Meath, the rising sun of today illuminates the central chamber of this very ancient Sí (mound). This ancient burial place is indeed very old, ever older than Brú na Bóinne (Newgrange). </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Sliabh Na Caillí is also the Sí of An Cailleach Bhéara. Sliabh Na Caillí means the 'mountain of the Cailleach.' Cailleach is translated as 'the Hag,' but really means the 'Veiled woman.' The woman is Béara, one of the Sí and is a mysterious Bean Sí (Faerie woman, or literally 'woman of the mound'). I had an interesting encounter with her one day on her mountain, the details of which I put in the last chapter of my book 'Finding the McCains.' The photo at the top is my son Donovan on top of Sliabh na Caillí. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmTQmB4k5O5Hu5oqq1UjpsBA8aBVRw-ZNwylnq6rXp6_csTh17tTEACgUMvyptNQmzkhetrPv4l5LTb6AUrcrqxI-B8X3gKSpJFSycXY8f0nPqdY1DTUo9LNHRvfeqEQ0cuhHde8gXJ3o/s1023/Barra%2540loughcrew.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="1023" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmTQmB4k5O5Hu5oqq1UjpsBA8aBVRw-ZNwylnq6rXp6_csTh17tTEACgUMvyptNQmzkhetrPv4l5LTb6AUrcrqxI-B8X3gKSpJFSycXY8f0nPqdY1DTUo9LNHRvfeqEQ0cuhHde8gXJ3o/w480-h344/Barra%2540loughcrew.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Barry R McCain on Sliabh na Caillí</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Autumnal Equinox is a splendid day, a day to light a fire, pour a libation or three, and reflect upon the season change and to remember one's ancestors. Here in the wooded hills of north Mississippi the weather is perfect, cool with bright sunshine. There will be a fire in the firepit tonight for sure. I encourage everyone</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> to mark and enjoy this special day. Turn off your TVs, go outside and enjoy the Autumnal Equinox.</span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">©<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Barry-R-McCain/e/B008PUORK6/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1"> Barry R McCain </a> </span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Barry R McCainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061685131254246076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338318699173170470.post-50252024008074191632021-06-20T13:28:00.001-05:002021-06-20T13:30:03.239-05:00Summer Solstice 2021<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEickI_q4fBDATMbHkG7b7BJ9-poE6bgZZmsUvUiOfG2NXGrU92Zg2NOlaFjxCw4aOodRPasBjU27zZp6kYOpq-koDw2j6gN0cDSLy2r9b-7-Q0eHLCd67ZEuHk89YR6gIN5Kp4pDB2oYXk/s639/Dagda+XX.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="518" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEickI_q4fBDATMbHkG7b7BJ9-poE6bgZZmsUvUiOfG2NXGrU92Zg2NOlaFjxCw4aOodRPasBjU27zZp6kYOpq-koDw2j6gN0cDSLy2r9b-7-Q0eHLCd67ZEuHk89YR6gIN5Kp4pDB2oYXk/w306-h378/Dagda+XX.jpg" width="306" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dagda</span> </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">This is the Summer Solstice today. It is the Midsummer festival which is often celebrated with a bonfire. Saint John the Baptist was associated with the festival in Christian times and there were prayers for God's blessing upon the corps at the height of the growing season. Of course, the festival is much older than St John and dates back to pagan times. St John was a relative newcomer to the Midsummer event and it was none other than An Dagda, also known as Crom, who used to bless the crops. </span></p><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">In astronomical speak, it is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere... and the shortest night of the year. Midsummer is, and has been, a prominent cultural event in ancient Europe and still going strong in the 21st Century. </span><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjan6Xfc_RDcOngBz5qSi6psn1PNkTEIaPQsT56HVlCF9qzjS7YGCAXT4_BI8KRn-cHoAt_HyXFbvibxQRVL6YvHwK8lIde-Gk6pvioOlek20V1eQdbEkx1U1Lssdt0TPbrOxi6WCj8lL4/s1600/170px-Gaul_god_Sucellus.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="271" data-original-width="170" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjan6Xfc_RDcOngBz5qSi6psn1PNkTEIaPQsT56HVlCF9qzjS7YGCAXT4_BI8KRn-cHoAt_HyXFbvibxQRVL6YvHwK8lIde-Gk6pvioOlek20V1eQdbEkx1U1Lssdt0TPbrOxi6WCj8lL4/s400/170px-Gaul_god_Sucellus.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;">Sucellus (Dagda's cognate in Gaul)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span>Midsummer is celebrated on or near the Summer's Solstice throughout Northern Europe. Festivals and celebrations are held from 19 June to 25 June. Midsummer festivals are held throughout Ireland on the weekend closest to the actual Solstice day. Bonfires lit on the hill tops are a tradition. </span><br /><br /><span>It customary to have a fire on the eve, or on the night, of the Solstice and advisable to run and jump over the fire to evoke the blessings of Dagda. A toast to the Solstice, to Dagda and to ole St John as well, all advisable. A bonfire is best, but a small fire in a fire-pit we do splendidly. And for those apartment dwellers, it is fine to just light the candle and open the wine and make your toast.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">So, Shake a Leg and Pull a Cork and Welcome in the Solstice!!!</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Barry-R-McCain/e/B008PUORK6?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2&qid=1624213277&sr=8-2">Barry R McCain</a></span>Barry R McCainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061685131254246076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338318699173170470.post-20573520631149364712021-05-01T10:04:00.000-05:002021-05-01T10:04:49.151-05:00May Day... Lá Bealtaine<p> </p><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0.75em 0px 0px; position: relative;">May Day... Lá Bealtaine</h3><div class="post-header" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10.8px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6674723457403174619" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 566px;"><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDTU2GWLpcjMwKqTDyAvldu5ZGSJmqUaNzn1nOoPPdm7s3lAw_PgppOYXKjplxxTEq5nFImvor-m9QVs5z6uh4NdWR3UuV_F1UHg8OtUTHqxOCBcrhkE1_8SvLkGjIpRfPqPeidk1004Q/s1600/brownbull+Jim+clean+copy.png" style="color: #2288bb; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1045" data-original-width="1600" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDTU2GWLpcjMwKqTDyAvldu5ZGSJmqUaNzn1nOoPPdm7s3lAw_PgppOYXKjplxxTEq5nFImvor-m9QVs5z6uh4NdWR3UuV_F1UHg8OtUTHqxOCBcrhkE1_8SvLkGjIpRfPqPeidk1004Q/s400/brownbull+Jim+clean+copy.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></span></div><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">Beltane is the anglicised name of the Gaelic May Day festival. May Day is on 1 May and is held on or near the halfway mark between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. It is one of the oldest and most ancient festival days. It is widely observed in Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man, and in modern times has spread to the Diaspora. In Irish Gaelic it is called Lá Bealtaine, in Scottish Gaelic, Là Bealltainn, an in Manx Gaelic Laa Boaltinn. Beltane is one of the four Gaelic seasonal festivals, along with Samhain, Imbolc, and Lughnasa. There are several theories on the etymology of Beltane; the most accepted one is that it is from the common Celtic Belo-tenia, meaning 'bright or shinning fire,' which in turn goes back to the Indo-European 'Bhel (to shine) tepnos (warm).</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">It is not a 'fire festival,' but fire is a integral part of the festivities. Prior to modern times it was a festival to mark and celebrate the moving of livestock to summer pastures, to honour the Old Ways and old gods, and evoke blessing of fertility of the tribe and the life giving cattle. </span></span><br /><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">Beltane is mentioned in the earliest written Gaelic literature when Christian monks began to write down Gaelic lore and myths in early medieval times. The medieval accounts were ancient even then and date back before Christianity was introduced to the Gaelic homelands. </span></span><br /><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">On the Beltane Eve the festival began. The people gathered to feast, have drink, and make offerings to the Aos Sí, who are the old gods of the Gaels. Byres, the windows and doors of homes, etc., were decorated with flowers. It was a joyous festival ushering in the bountiful time when the days grew longer, the sun shined more, and the weather grew warmer.</span></span><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; color: #666666; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 5px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIrhKEFTuUR9zVUREjcXxikUC8278NoRvAp1LjcApng5rlord56gkbEJog_-V62Rfw_2jlKHjOGPiIOshC1lucmfQ2QP4q8sVA39wwTn-32OJ_Ik4EEdUjeWUpFijixNZH1DgEQQKqVog/s1600/Belenus.jpg" style="color: #2288bb; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="206" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIrhKEFTuUR9zVUREjcXxikUC8278NoRvAp1LjcApng5rlord56gkbEJog_-V62Rfw_2jlKHjOGPiIOshC1lucmfQ2QP4q8sVA39wwTn-32OJ_Ik4EEdUjeWUpFijixNZH1DgEQQKqVog/s1600/Belenus.jpg" style="background: transparent; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.56px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Belenus</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">Beltane survived the coming of Christianity and continued on for centuries, despite the attempts of overly zealous Christian officials who wanted to stop the practice, as they were fully aware of the pagan origins of Beltane. By the 20th century the festival had almost died out and was only celebrated and practiced in certain areas in Ireland, Scotland, and Man. In the late 20th century there was a revival of Beltane festivities. The focus of Beltane changed some in these more modern times, but the main core beliefs did remain. The concept of the season change, the coming of the sun, and the start of the season of growth and plenty, etc., remain.</span></span><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; color: #666666; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 5px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMO2uEJidr182l7Thc_ceN0BTXlOoeewIsupGBkvuG-7O7YG19xvP_VlBlCnxBw5_fOx9fXZSkP52yWF78bnkloclUS9IEN1JZVapXX6zy3CPdakGBDgs03EYqqHJFoj_X2fvG3N_RCM/s1600/dagda+iii.jpg" style="color: #2288bb; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="774" data-original-width="1000" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMO2uEJidr182l7Thc_ceN0BTXlOoeewIsupGBkvuG-7O7YG19xvP_VlBlCnxBw5_fOx9fXZSkP52yWF78bnkloclUS9IEN1JZVapXX6zy3CPdakGBDgs03EYqqHJFoj_X2fvG3N_RCM/s320/dagda+iii.jpg" style="background: transparent; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.56px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dagda</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">Fire was and is an integral part of Beltane. All fires were put out on Beltane Eve and then rekindled starting with the lighting of the bonfire. It was this holy flame from which the 'new' flames of the the folk began. It was the 'force fire' and sacred. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Many will recognise the fire ritual as the same ritual used in the Catholic Church and several other Christian denominations in the Easter lighting of the Paschal candle. </span><span style="font-size: large;">There are too many Beltane nuances and rituals to describe here, but there is one core aspect of the ritual. This is a Deiseal procession around the sacred fire. Deiseal means 'right-hand direction' or Sunwise (clockwise). The Deiseal procession around the sacred fire was a Blessing of the Cosmos upon all. </span></span><br /><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">Beltane is still celebrated and the practice is growing. It is now held not only in the Gaelic homeland, but in the Diaspora, and has been incorporated into similar May Eve and May Day celebrations in Europe. While many see Beltane as just a good time with a bonfire, there is also a growing interest in the spiritual aspects of the festival. The concepts of the a new growing season, the connection to the Old Ways of ancestors, and reflection upon life, are also now part of Beltane for a growing number of people.</span></span><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; color: #666666; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 5px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNllpQknX4IG-hFeFeldq-3U5wc2J_LKntqjccTibYKArogJj5jrgMOV-Z5ba-M8t48tFZFreUG3m6XHzb1f4UoIicrpRn19_1mCu1YCg7n3f6jrRxQ6C3gGJWpfTg6iW-jhnzAoPudEA/s1600/18+Oct+2013+fire.jpg" style="color: #2288bb; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1445" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNllpQknX4IG-hFeFeldq-3U5wc2J_LKntqjccTibYKArogJj5jrgMOV-Z5ba-M8t48tFZFreUG3m6XHzb1f4UoIicrpRn19_1mCu1YCg7n3f6jrRxQ6C3gGJWpfTg6iW-jhnzAoPudEA/s320/18+Oct+2013+fire.jpg" style="background: transparent; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="289" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.56px;"><span style="font-size: large;">a sacred fire of Bealtaine<br /><br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.56px;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">Do enjoy Beltane. A bonfire is best way to partake of course and with a Deiseal (clockwise) procession around the sacred fire. Followed by toasts to the Old Ways, to Ancestors, to the coming season of Summer. If you lack the means of a bonfire, a candle will do, or even a wee fire in your fire-pit. Connect with your Ancestors and the Old Ways, as these are very good things. </span></span><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; color: #666666; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 5px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiwTBCBPpTQZ_ReutFb6w10atWh6AsTQ7yL1Na8J_AaCQRAixsJ9LPmgjVDW6haQhDklRT2-Ne42V7nQDNzgJklgYrhQYHDZcXo9RmMZz7v0DdMknc_ENIJkRSDmmqRGYUpNfIJYHRGiw/s1600/20+June+2017+Colour+Edit.jpg" style="color: #33aaff; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="738" data-original-width="757" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiwTBCBPpTQZ_ReutFb6w10atWh6AsTQ7yL1Na8J_AaCQRAixsJ9LPmgjVDW6haQhDklRT2-Ne42V7nQDNzgJklgYrhQYHDZcXo9RmMZz7v0DdMknc_ENIJkRSDmmqRGYUpNfIJYHRGiw/s320/20+June+2017+Colour+Edit.jpg" style="background: transparent; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.56px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sláinte ar Lá Bealtaine</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.56px;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Barry-R-McCain/e/B008PUORK6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1527106843&sr=8-1" style="color: #2288bb; text-decoration-line: none;">Barry R McCain on Amazon</a></span></div></div>Barry R McCainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061685131254246076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338318699173170470.post-38775801799868021822021-02-01T18:17:00.012-06:002021-02-24T13:23:45.110-06:00Imbolc and Saint Bríd's Day<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHa9WVlK4ruM3kYviWYJIeRjB9LqNoxWaWKkBV1HViNidY6oVcm20pxDxNmfxXRTyXnmIqdF7ytHxA5Uh44MDT66HmfPAkJ-4Grj0FhNNKUCRp75lASkKBCtmNc98G5gPtBzsA6ss3y7M/s475/Br%25C3%25ADd+Cross.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="474" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHa9WVlK4ruM3kYviWYJIeRjB9LqNoxWaWKkBV1HViNidY6oVcm20pxDxNmfxXRTyXnmIqdF7ytHxA5Uh44MDT66HmfPAkJ-4Grj0FhNNKUCRp75lASkKBCtmNc98G5gPtBzsA6ss3y7M/s320/Br%25C3%25ADd+Cross.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Cros Bríde (Bríde's Cross) made of rushes<br /></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Today is Imbolc one of the four Gaelic seasonal festivals. Imbolc is the halfway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. The festival is associated with the goddess Bríd, who is one of Tuatha Dé. Bríd was the protectress of hearth and home, and of barns and livestock. She was invoked to bless the agrarian and pastoral production in the coming year. Imbolc has been celebrated from ancient times to the present. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In Christian times, Bríd was made into a Saint and there are many traditions and customs associated with Saint Bríd in Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man. Imbolc is called Lá Fhéile Bríde also, i.e. the festival of Bríd. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">How to celebrate in the these modern times: Light a candle, a deiseal procession (sunwise or clock wise) three times around the fire and a toast. This practice is called Saining i.e. a blessing, protection or consecrating. In this case to invoke Bríd... both the Naomh Bríd (saint Bríd) or Bríd, the ancient goddess. <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnIetZpi-Incu-N2vG3XeVEgoVi4qkrH9p-9OGhK4Hpee7FY1vsxQWSeFLgU1aEb82sUyLFKtAGrDb-ggYrDZYK9dibq6d92uMb63gu_-clUU9egDNF4diS8B_Cz4iIoRDhO_NseKxHfE/s1565/26+March+2020.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1005" data-original-width="1565" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnIetZpi-Incu-N2vG3XeVEgoVi4qkrH9p-9OGhK4Hpee7FY1vsxQWSeFLgU1aEb82sUyLFKtAGrDb-ggYrDZYK9dibq6d92uMb63gu_-clUU9egDNF4diS8B_Cz4iIoRDhO_NseKxHfE/s320/26+March+2020.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">© 2020 Barry R McCain</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=DRDJCB68NJ5EE">Donations Welcomed</a> </span></span><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span><br /></p><p></p><br />Barry R McCainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061685131254246076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338318699173170470.post-10246232185017932442021-01-20T12:33:00.000-06:002021-01-20T12:34:46.857-06:00The Future<p> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">To best way to predict the Future, your future, our tribe's future...</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS8K9Tbze-P-53Yx8m6PbP8Bew8fgJjWBfJr2UtL9PWLJmsjuHcre6HnuL4OUSzJREIRbSSI64CwtrHGP6oarIgKPHn_2BjZr31a2cdLUpCU9UOc0wAb9aECkFBKyMKH9oGbPeF-kcZ08/s2048/A+Sport.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS8K9Tbze-P-53Yx8m6PbP8Bew8fgJjWBfJr2UtL9PWLJmsjuHcre6HnuL4OUSzJREIRbSSI64CwtrHGP6oarIgKPHn_2BjZr31a2cdLUpCU9UOc0wAb9aECkFBKyMKH9oGbPeF-kcZ08/s320/A+Sport.JPG" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">is to create it, with your thoughts, beliefs, and actions. Do the work. </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">© 2021 Barry R McCain</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Finding-McCains-Scots-Irish-Odyssey/dp/0985587644/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Barry+R+McCain&qid=1611167417&sr=8-1">Finding the McCains</a><br /></span></span></p>Barry R McCainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061685131254246076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338318699173170470.post-51610753006995920752020-12-21T14:53:00.003-06:002020-12-21T15:01:13.299-06:00The Winter Solstice and The Great Conjunction <p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht1Qac6C09DgFqTzuLIst6WYtpuilMgIc45vB837RGxdUKPUvbQVq8eTY9He0SpnU0Mi1cwUCwg7gdtyfbiQ59L8jPvAWDrw6iXt3jWeKAlGfi5cppW8gLBdtsk-BCxxQZkZLn4HhtCfg/s1200/winter+solstice.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1200" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht1Qac6C09DgFqTzuLIst6WYtpuilMgIc45vB837RGxdUKPUvbQVq8eTY9He0SpnU0Mi1cwUCwg7gdtyfbiQ59L8jPvAWDrw6iXt3jWeKAlGfi5cppW8gLBdtsk-BCxxQZkZLn4HhtCfg/w400-h210/winter+solstice.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Winter Solstice</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Today is the Winter Solstice. This is the astronomical first day of Winter and it is the shortest day of the year, in the Northern Hemisphere. The Winter Solstice has been celebrated and venerated for many thousands of years. Now, if that were not wonderful enough, there is an additional astronomical treat this year, the conjunction of two planets, Jupiter and Saturn. <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The etymology of solstice is from the Latin <i>sol </i>meaning 'sun' and <i>sistere </i>meaning 'to stand still.' So named as for a few days before and after the solstice the sun's path across the sky appears to freeze. On the winter's solstice the sun is low in the sky. The sun's path begins northward again and will reach the most northerly point on the summer solstice. If you step out at noon today your shadow will be the longest of the year. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBfh_yjeNh0OY2dt7zS_BNsCFYrfS2cgGoT5mSysCs3FxTHYiDpMcwhfUppHbFRNbDoQuqAGoMTm_Pnn6Hz7PfTB8zCyke_Ir-ajoVk3nBF8bImXUQC5V734rRt8g1p3YXIeKtUD6onaE/s474/Holly+and+candle.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="474" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBfh_yjeNh0OY2dt7zS_BNsCFYrfS2cgGoT5mSysCs3FxTHYiDpMcwhfUppHbFRNbDoQuqAGoMTm_Pnn6Hz7PfTB8zCyke_Ir-ajoVk3nBF8bImXUQC5V734rRt8g1p3YXIeKtUD6onaE/s320/Holly+and+candle.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saturnalia Holly and Candle<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Celtic, Germanic, Slavic, Hellenic, etc., people all celebrated the Winter Solstice. </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The shortest day of the year takes place and the days begin to slowly get longer and and longer.</span></span> In the Roman world the Winter Solstice festival was Saturnalia. Many of the traditions of Saturnalia have endured and have been assimilated into our own Christmas customs. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The giving of gifts, decorating homes with green using ivy and holly. Candles were given as gifts and used to celebrate the season. Saturnalia is named after the god Saturn. The etymology of Saturn is probably from the Proto Indo European word <i>sewH(r)</i> which means 'seed, bring forth,' and is a cognate with the modern English 'seed, son, semen, and sow (as in a seed).' Saturn is connected to agriculture, and he is often conflated with the Greek Kronos. The two entities come from a single Indo-European spiritual cosmology concept. While it is a different topic, there is a link between the Spirit of Christmas, or Father Christmas, and the traditions and rituals from Saturnalia. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the 4th Century the Church selected the 25th of December to celebrate the birth of Christ and this allowed them to incorporate Christmas with Saturnalia and the other Winter Solstice celebrations practiced in indigenous European spirituality.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLKXVuCjB6IQjc-3mHrIPUx1uV_XfrvqaB0scVIYwWtNhe4pujrZdjvYLoD0bvu2PjvTIym0SaUdiXHIIq_3JeTlIDnwszyr_N1Hm9FU4hf_IIZFFf51ZCeIVGFnnu13GIEWjlMlF5CEg/s712/201201_Lookups_Dec_Jupiter_Saturn_GreatConjunction_FinderChart_940x940-712x712.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="712" data-original-width="712" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLKXVuCjB6IQjc-3mHrIPUx1uV_XfrvqaB0scVIYwWtNhe4pujrZdjvYLoD0bvu2PjvTIym0SaUdiXHIIq_3JeTlIDnwszyr_N1Hm9FU4hf_IIZFFf51ZCeIVGFnnu13GIEWjlMlF5CEg/s320/201201_Lookups_Dec_Jupiter_Saturn_GreatConjunction_FinderChart_940x940-712x712.jpg" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Great Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And speaking of Saturn, his planet and the planet Jupiter have the Great Conjunction tonight. These are the two largest planets in the night sky, easily visible with the naked eye, but if you have binoculars or a telescope, all the better to see them with. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This will be the closest Conjunction in 397 years and will be spectacular. The two planets will only appear 0.1 degree apart tonight. This is a one night event, so if weather permits, I encourage you to view. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere t</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">he conjunction will appear in the southwestern night sky low on the horizon from dusk and be present for a about an hour. <br /></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">© <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Finding-McCains-Scots-Irish-Odyssey/dp/0985587644/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Finding+the+McCains&qid=1608583644&sr=8-1">Barry R McCain</a> <br /></span></span></span></span></p><p><br /></p>Barry R McCainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061685131254246076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338318699173170470.post-8072560338347146462020-12-05T12:56:00.001-06:002021-10-07T11:57:04.597-05:00The New Book<p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPAMgfGFgj5dXzWOgAc9MXounAbno5QtleFYaBUp_GUBo2Ul8il8EB3VlTx0AORDhB8OP8vOoyBh6D84PFaxMEeVH-RlgsF9Y6DuDXJCM4Y5-Sk672ye8Pk1vxhYpGiCEI3nSmLTVPtGM/s2048/IMG_0433-1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPAMgfGFgj5dXzWOgAc9MXounAbno5QtleFYaBUp_GUBo2Ul8il8EB3VlTx0AORDhB8OP8vOoyBh6D84PFaxMEeVH-RlgsF9Y6DuDXJCM4Y5-Sk672ye8Pk1vxhYpGiCEI3nSmLTVPtGM/w275-h367/IMG_0433-1.JPG" width="275" /></a></div><p><br /> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My new book is finished... finally. A few months late, but done now. It will be out in later winter 2021. It is about the Scots-Irish and their beliefs in the Faeries. The book examines who and what the Faeries are and where those beliefs originated. The tale starts some 5,000 years ago and we follow the story from the Yamnaya migration from the Russian Steppe into Europe, to the Bell Beaker settlement of the Isles (Britain and Ireland), onto the proto Celts, and then the insular Celts. I use ancient DNA results, Gaelic literature and the living folk traditions of Ireland and Scotland to follow this long path to the Faeries. This is done however, with a specific focus on the Scots-Irish. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Scots-Irish were an integral part of the indigenous American society created by the early European settlers and it is for this reason I felt like a Scots-Irish perspective was useful. <br /></span></span></p><p></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi06BEgFZ1d7qnYko9fNE-OhLtL6CgB3D5m56ClNF9x9qqfpkuE7fcxjQ_Mes60bFMFBTs103pU8r3bCxbrhWBQ6t1C7Y2qclql1T_t02Qsb5xyJA1x0tvwg6BgIAZofnZmWyB0BKAtaNI/s1600/IMG023.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1536" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi06BEgFZ1d7qnYko9fNE-OhLtL6CgB3D5m56ClNF9x9qqfpkuE7fcxjQ_Mes60bFMFBTs103pU8r3bCxbrhWBQ6t1C7Y2qclql1T_t02Qsb5xyJA1x0tvwg6BgIAZofnZmWyB0BKAtaNI/s400/IMG023.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Placing a Clootie on a Faerie Tree</span></span><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Topics include the Scots-Irish Faerie beliefs, both in Ireland and the New World. Foremost, are the Faeries of course, better known as the Síthe (said Shee). I also will explore the Second Sight and traditional ritual magic and the elements of the Faerie Faith that still endure.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Chapters include:</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">1 McCuaig's Bar</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">2 Scots-Irish Ethnogenesis</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">3 Reverend Robert Kirk</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">4 Faeries in Ulster</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">5 The High Síthe</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">6 The Lesser Síthe</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">7 Across the Water</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">8 Seers and the Second Sight</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">9 Magic and Ritual</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">10 Old Faith Survival</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until the new book is out, my last book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Finding-McCains-Scots-Irish-Odyssey/dp/0985587644/ref=sxts_sxwds-bia-wc-p13n1_0?cv_ct_cx=Finding+the+McCains&dchild=1&keywords=Finding+the+McCains&pd_rd_i=0985587644&pd_rd_r=a6b570af-4c1d-408e-989f-6114f71b7646&pd_rd_w=DkWN5&pd_rd_wg=0Qb02&pf_rd_p=1835a2a9-7ed8-48dc-ad07-fcd7527bd2bc&pf_rd_r=MPFYH14C60HQY4ZGPT5A&psc=1&qid=1607193779&sr=1-1-80ba0e26-a1cd-4e7b-87a0-a2ffae3a273c">Finding the McCains</a> is available on Amazon and makes a wonderful Christmas and Yule gift.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">© Barry R McCain 2020 <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <br /></span></span></p>Barry R McCainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061685131254246076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2338318699173170470.post-48502957700222093372020-08-27T12:15:00.004-05:002020-08-27T13:34:05.334-05:00cosán na ndéithe.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEE0SOtjdJTzKnPX1Jl8JISkfDSk0S6ehIsXNjzcgtB9CR0jCXRJSxwv_zEWUpar0fdyDzJNgeywjjaWx8f9XiCDJ-bj0MEMVPoMnBG6Yox7HsEVRf2ZxefeRfQWJWlc8by1q08ZD1l_A/s1023/Barra%2540loughcrew.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="1023" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEE0SOtjdJTzKnPX1Jl8JISkfDSk0S6ehIsXNjzcgtB9CR0jCXRJSxwv_zEWUpar0fdyDzJNgeywjjaWx8f9XiCDJ-bj0MEMVPoMnBG6Yox7HsEVRf2ZxefeRfQWJWlc8by1q08ZD1l_A/w512-h368/Barra%2540loughcrew.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p>Ní théann na déithe leat ach má chuireann tú tú féin ar a gcosán. Agus glacann sé sin misneach.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Finding-McCains-Scots-Irish-Odyssey/dp/0985587644/ref=sxts_sxwds-bia-wc-p13n1_0?cv_ct_cx=Finding+the+McCains&dchild=1&keywords=Finding+the+McCains&pd_rd_i=0985587644&pd_rd_r=1fe7b515-c262-4d1c-8109-f8035812d69a&pd_rd_w=dGfwg&pd_rd_wg=a2WTc&pf_rd_p=d027eaac-7531-45fe-a61e-20ae30db06de&pf_rd_r=1EHPVKQ5B1WNNQVYYPGP&psc=1&qid=1589210988&sr=1-1-70f7c15d-07d8-466a-b325-4be35d7258cc">Finding the McCains</a></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"> </span></p>Barry R McCainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061685131254246076noreply@blogger.com0