In Pure Spirit

For open minds

Traquair Fair: Sky Trumpets, traders and more

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Traquair House is the oldest inhabited house in Scotland. It takes back to the 11th century when it was a hunting lodge for royalty. Today it’s also a bed and breakfast, a day out for corporate groups and an ideal venue for weddings.

Traquair House is also the centre point to Traquair Fair. Returning in 2010, after an economic client enforced break in 2009, Traquair Fair is a popular weekend trip for families who appreciate craft, live music, alternative healing, outdoors food and the ale brewed at the House’s brewery.

The name is far older than the building itself. “Traquair” is believed to originate from the Celtic “tre” or “tret” which means hamlet or perhaps simply dwelling. The Quair burn joins the river Tweed just a few hundred yards from the historic house – and so the old Celtic tongue for the location could well have been “Tre-quair” hence Traquair.

Traquair Fair is always colourful. Whether it’s the tents belonging to those camping for the weekend, the bright colours of the performers’ costumes or sometimes the protective layer of umbrellas turned against the Scottish sky the fair is never bleak.

In 2010 an example of the colours on display at the Traquair Fair was the sky trumpets. This marvellous machine used its might ears to listen to wishes from the crowd. Who could resist its colourful charms?

Where the sky trumpets travelled down some of wider roads and paths at Traquair Fair some of the other performance artists made sure to visit the gardens and the off-the-beaten-track places to ensure colour and style seeped into every corner.

The Hula Dollies took their distinctive 1950s style fashion into the old walled garden and performed for free.

Crafts are always popular at Traquair Fair too. You might well encounter traders like the Scottish Fairy Door Company, garden suppliers with the latest composting technology or charities like the World Land Trust or the Scottish SPCA.
Needless to say, veggies will find plenty of food at the fair too.

In Pure Spirit

Have you ever been to Traquair Fair? We’d love to hear about your experiences and tips. Or if you’re planning on taking a stall to the Fair next year – let us know!

A list of standing stones in Northern Ireland

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Giant's Ring

Image by hoveringdog via Flickr

Megaliths (or standing stones) can be complete circles, incomplete circles or single vertical stones. Northern Ireland has very many standing stones and this list is just a sample.

  1. Aghalane standing stone
  2. Aghtirourke
  3. Altagore
  4. Ballygilbert
  5. Ballyloughin
  6. Ballymacaldrack
  7. Ballynahatty, The Giant’s Ring
  8. Ballynoe
  9. Ballyvennaght
  10. Banagher
  11. Beaghmore
  12. Carnalridge, The White Wife
  13. Carnanbane
  14. Carnanmore
  15. Carrick East
  16. Castleward
  17. Cloghastuckane
  18. Coolnasillagh
  19. Cregg
  20. Creggandevesky
  21. Crockalaghta
  22. Cuilbane
  23. Cushleake Mountain
  24. Drumskinny
  25. Goakstown
  26. Gortcorbies NE
  27. Killybeg, Bullaun Stone
  28. Knockoneill
  29. Lackagh
  30. Legananny
  31. Lisnamanny
  32. Loughash Wedge Tomb
  33. Magheramore
  34. Moneydig
  35. Moneyslane
  36. Mount drum
  37. Navan Site B
  38. Saval Mor
  39. Slieve Gullion
  40. Tamnaharry
  41. Ticloy
  42. Tievebulliagh
  43. Tireighter
  44. Tirnony
  45. Tullynafreave
  46. Tureagh Stone Circle
  47. Wateresk

In Pure Spirit

Have you been to any of these megalith sites? What was it like? Can you help us add more standing stones found in Northern Ireland to this list?

Wookey Hole

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The Axe emerging from the limestone at Wookey ...

Image via Wikipedia

Wookey Hole

Wookey Hole is a village in Somerset, England. It is most famous for the Wookey Hole Caves. Wookey Hole Caves are believed to been inhabited by early man some 50,000 years ago. Bones and pottery from Iron Age Celtic people have also been found.

Wookey Witch

The Wookey Hole Caves are known for the legend of the Wookey Witch. It is said that the villagers petitioned the Abbot of Glastonbury for help with dealing with a witch who lurked in the cave. The Benedictine exorcist Father Bernard was dispatched. Folklore tells that Father Bernard defeated the witch and that his power and faith turned her to stone.

Hauntings

Visitors to the cave frequently report hearing a strange echoing laughter and shadows moving suddenly. The ghost of the Wookey Witch is also said to linger on in the cave.

There are legends of a giant eel which was forced into the deep caves after local fishermen drove it up the River Axe after it had destroyed their nets.

In Pure Spirit

What do you think about Wookey Hole Caves and its attractions? Has it become too touristy or can you still feel the history of the place?

Why is it unlucky to leave the Christmas decorations up after 5th January?

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The 5th of January is the 12th night of Christmas. It is considered unlucky to leave the Christmas decorations up beyond the night of the 5th. If the decorations are still up after the 5th then superstition advises it is best to leave them up all year.

The 12th night of Christmas is Epiphany Eve. The Epiphany, on the 6th of January, is the day Christian’s record as the day Jesus Christ was revealed as God in human form. The day is also celebrated by some Christians to commemorate the Magi visiting the child Jesus.

The Epiphany has other names and other local customs. It is sometimes known as Little Christmas (or Women’s Christmas ‘Nollaig na mBan in Irish) or Dia dos Reis (Portuguese for the ‘day of the kings’). The Epiphany marks the start of the Mardi Gras season in Louisiana.

In many ways, the 12th night marks the end of the Christmas season. The Christmas decorations need to be removed in time to mark the Epiphany.

Candlemas is also a significant event in this tradition. Candlemas, also known as the Meeting of the Lord or the Feast of Presentation of Jesus at the Temple, normally occurs around the 2nd of February although some Churches will have this feast on the Sunday between the 28th of January and the 3rd of February. Once again Churches would require Christmas decorations to be down in time for the new Candlemas decorations to be put up.

It is thought by many than Candlemas is a Christianization of the Celtic festival of Imbolc. Imbolc (or Là Fhèill Brìghde in Scotland) is the day halfway between the Spring Equinox and the Winter Solstice and originally dedicated to the healing and smith-craft goddess Brigid. Imbolc is also the day the hag goddess Ceilleach gathers her firewood. Households would be ill-advised to still be decorated with greenery and while Ceilleach is out gathering.

In Pure Spirit

If you celebrate Christmas or Yule do you make sure all the decorations are down before the end of the 12th night?

Yule

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The tradition of Yule pre-dates Christianity. It is now celebrated on December the 25th by many but on December 21st or 22nd on the solstice by some Wicca.

Credit: Adam Fagan

Yule is a celebration and a feast which marks the darkest point of the winter and the returning of the light.

The word Yule may come from the word Yoole which, in turn, derives from the Old English geōla. It may also come from the Old Norse word Jōl for a 12-day feast which Christian missionaries later turned into Christmas.

Yule on the solstice heralds the rebirth of the Oak King on the longest night. It represents not just rebirth but planning for the future.

One type of Yule log would be a large log given or harvested but never bought that was taken into the house, decorated and lit. Decorations would traditionally be greenery, reds and gold colours with a dusting of flour. The log is then doused in cider and lit from the smouldering remains of last year’s yule log. After 12 days the log would be ceremonially doused.

Today, a more common form of Yule log is one which holds three candles. The first candle should be green, red or white to represent the season. The second candle should be green, gold or black to represent the Sun God and the third candle should be white, red or black to represent the Great Goddess.

Dagda and Brighid are deities most suited to Yule. Dagda’s cauldron is symbolic of provision and warmth. Brighid’s work to teach the smiths the techniques of metalwork and fire tending is associated with the light returning from the darkness and the rebirth.

In Pure Spirit

We would like to wish every visitor a happy Yule for this year and the next. Please share your thoughts; what does Yule mean to you?

A list of standing stones in Wales

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Bryn Celli Ddu - interior view

Image via Wikipedia

Megaliths (or standing stones) can be single vertical stones, complete or incomplete circles. Many of the standing stones in Wales date from the Neolithic period (circa 4000 BC) and this is fairly common for megaliths in Europe.

  1. Barclodiad y Gawres Burial Chamber
  2. Bodowyr Burial Chamber
  3. Bron Y Foel Isaf Burial Chamber
  4. Bryn Cader Faner Stone Circle and Cairns
  5. Bryn Celli Ddu Burial Chamber
  6. Bryn Seward Stones Cadair Idris
  7. Bwlch y Ddeufaen Standing Stones
  8. Capel Garmon Burial Chamber
  9. Carreg Samson. Burial Chamber
  10. Druids’ Circle Penmaenmawr
  11. Dyffryn Ardudwy Burial Chambers
  12. Great Orme Bronze Age copper mine
  13. Hendre Waelod Burial Chamber
  14. Llanllyfni Standing Stone
  15. Llanbedr Standing Stones
  16. Llech Idris Standing Stone
  17. Lligwy Burial Chamber
  18. Maen y Bardd Burial Chamber (Stone of the Bard)
  19. Mynydd Cefn Burial Chamber
  20. Mynydd Hiraethog sites
  21. Parc Cwm long barrow
  22. Penbedw Stone Circle
  23. Penrhos Feilw Standing Stones
  24. Pentre Ifan Burial Chamber
  25. Plas Newydd Burial Chamber
  26. Presaddfed Bodedern Burial Chamber
  27. St. Lythan’s Burial Chamber
  28. Tinkinswood Burial Chamber
  29. Trefignath Burial Chamber
  30. Ty Mawr Hut Circles South Stack Holyhead

In Pure Spirit

Have you visited any standing stones in Wales? We’d love to hear your experiences in the comment section below? Can you help us grow or enhance this list? Please get in touch!

The Celtic Zodiac – tree zodiac

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It is thought that the ancient Celtic Druids may have used a Zodiac. This Zodiac was rediscovered by Robert Graves and published in his popular book The White Goddess* (USA*) .

Graves used the work of Duald MacFirbis (1585 – 1670) the scholar and bard of clan O’Brien and bard Roderick O’Flaherty (1629 – 1718). There is doubt among modern scholars as to whether these sources are enough as there is evidence that some of the terminology used has Latin rather than Celtic roots and it is unlikely Christian bards would have sought to preserve ancient Druid knowledge.

Helena Peterson has provided an alternative Celtic Zodiac. It uses the planets Uranus, Neptune and Pluto which the Druids where unlikely to have discovered but her book The Handbook of Celtic Astrology* (USA *) remains popular.

Due to the competing versions of the Celtic Zodiac and the on-going debate around accuracy it is easy to find tables with differing dates.

Celtic Zodiac

December 24 to January 20: Birch – The Achiever

January 21 to February 17: Rowan – The Thinker

February 18 to March 17: Ash – The Enchanter

March 18 to April 14: Alder – The Trailblazer

April 15 to May 12: Willow – The Observer

May 13 to June 9: Hawthorn – The Illusionist

June 10 to July 7: Oak – The Stabilizer

July 8 to August 4: Holly – The Ruler

August 5 to September 1: Hazel – The Knower

September 2 to September 29: Vine – The Equalizer

September 30 to October 27: Ivy – The Survivor

October 28 to November 24: Reed – The Inquisitor

November 25 to December 25: Elder – The Seeker

In Pure Spirit

Are you a follower of the Celtic Zodiac? Do you think we can ever fully recover the wisdom of the Druids?

Disclaimer: Links marked with a star* are revenue links.

A Celtic creation myth – hoarfrost

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We all have to find a beginning somewhere and this is where it begins for In Pure Spirit.

A Celtic creation myth

During the first winter, a colossal and powerful giant rose from the hoarfrost. Next came the fire and the fire melted the giant.

As the ice giant melted so the world was born. His blood became the seas and oceans. His bones became the mountains. The giant’s hair became the forests and trees. The sky was forged from his skull.

It is thought that some of the ancient Celtics placed their gods at the very heart of the Earth in a realm of mountains and valleys. Beneath, in the Underworld, the dead lived on.

In Pure Spirit

In some ways, this Celtic creation myth is similar to the Norse stories of Niflheim the land of ice and Muspelheim the land of fire beginning to mix.

And what of you? What type of beginning would you hope to discover at In Pure Spirit?

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