Not the Shakespeare play, though it was the first one I studied*. The festival of Twelfth nthefeastnot the ight. It's not really celebrated in Scotland, only seen as the day for packing away the Christmas decorations**. But in lots of countries it's a day of celebration. Three years ago we experienced the Arrival of the…Read more Twelfth night
Festivals
Ringing in the changes
Almost a month ago I wrote a post about one memorable Hogmanay. Yesterday I got thinking about more of them, and started planning this post*. And then today I listened to reports of quieter celebrations around the world, and the cancellation of Edinburgh's "traditional" Hogamanay festival. Now I'm no spring chicken but I'm not *that*…Read more Ringing in the changes
when the weather gods are kind
I've written several times about our Argyll weather. It's usually relatively mild here but it's often wet. Very wet. And changeable, all these pictures were taken on the same hour long walk. So it's not always the best place to plan outdoor events. Last year we held a Scarecrow Festival, to raise funds for our…Read more when the weather gods are kind
Christmas pudding
Today is "stir up Sunday", I think just in the UK. It's a staple topic every year on BBCRadio soap opera "The Archers" , when matriarch Jill Archer is joined by some or all of her grandchildren to stir up the pudding and make a wish. Not this year though, we've had new episodes to…Read more Christmas pudding
Getting crafty for Christmas
It's even wetter and windier today! I had to cut short my walk, don't worry DogS got her usual long one with MrS while I was at my Zoom Yoga class. So after getting into dry clothes and finishing off yesterday's soup for lunch I settled down for an afternoon of craft. I'm not a…Read more Getting crafty for Christmas
(Festive) baking
Among all the recipes for using up post Hallowe'en pumpkins my daily newspaper had this one today. The author Benjamina Ebuehi was a contestant on Great British Bake Off a few years ago. You can find more of her recipes here. It sounded delicious, a chocolatey variation on the traditional cake. And so I set…Read more (Festive) baking
Fireworks, but not tonight.
So tonight is Bonfire Night tonight, more formally Guy Fawkes Night. But this year there won't be any big public displays, England, Wales and Northern Ireland are currently on lockdown and here in Scotland large gatherings are banned. And while I'm missing all the things we can't do at the moment, this one well, I'm…Read more Fireworks, but not tonight.
Observing traditions
Today is the Feast of All Souls. Friday you may have celebrated Hallowe'en, perhaps decorating your house or yard with pumpkins or spooky items. In Scotland children mark the festival by "guising" dressing up and going from house to house, ideally performing some kind of "turn" in return for treats, usually sweets or chocolate. That…Read more Observing traditions
Alicante
It's been a bit dreich* today and so I ditched my plans to visit a local garden and remembered sunny times in April instead. (Caught up on the ironing too) Alicante. Probably most travellers fly there to reach the resorts of the Costa Blanca but that's a shame. Our previous visit to Spain had been…Read more Alicante
Exploring festivals abroad
Not the musical variety, in fact I don't think I've ever been to one of those home or away. There were Glasgow's Big Day concerts in 1990, somehow I got into the then Copthorne hotel to watch the George Square gig and then went down to Glasgow Green in the evening (that was the time Sheena Easton…Read more Exploring festivals abroad
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