Black Hills Celtic Society Newsletter

Transcription

1 December 2016 Volume 19, Issue 12 Black Hills Celtic Society Newsletter Black Hills Celtic Society PO Box 765, Rapid City SD President s Letter All November we wondered when the 70 degree days would end. One week into December and we're lucky to see 50 degrees less as the high. After 30 years of living here, the violent seasonal changes characteristic of South Events Calendar Dec 31 6:30, Hogmanay, 4446 West Glen Place Jan 4 6:00 Board Mtg Jan 18 7:00 General Membership Mtg Jan 21 Burns Dinner, VFW Club Mar 18 St Patrick s Parade & Celebration Dakota can still throw me a curve. Just in time to counter the frigid weather, we are about to launch into the New Year with the social warmth of our annual Hogmanay. Two of our newest members, Dee and Trisha Walker, have graciously offered to host this most appropriately homebased celebration at their newly built home on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2016, starting at 6:30 PM. Their address is 4446 West Glen Place. Directions: Drive south on Sheridan Lake Road past Arrowhead Golf Course. At the next stoplight, turn right (west) on Corral Drive and follow it to the top of the hill. At the top of the hill turn right (north) at the T onto Carriage Hills Drive. Drive on about two blocks distance and take the first left you come to onto South Glenview. As you drive west on South Glenview another two blocks, it will become West Glen Place. Dee and Trisha's house will be on the right (north) side of the street, #4446 on the mailbox out at the curb. There will be a Celtic flag attached to the mailbox and the house will have Christmas lights and exterior door lights. If you get lost, call their number ( ) for directions. This is a pot-luck hors d'oeuvres party. BYOB and please wear your Celtic finery. I hope to see you there. Continued on pg 3 Meeting locations unless advised otherwise: General Meetings generally held at 7:00 on the 3rd Wed at National American University, 5301 So. Highway 16, Rapid City Board meetings held at 6:00 on the 1st Wed at Byrne Dental, 3825 Canyon Lake Drive, Rapid City Inside this issue: Hogmanay Traditional Celebrations As the we get ready to celebrate our own Hogmanay at the Walker s house (see Jim s president s letter above for details), consider some history of the Hogmanay from Historians believe that we inherited the celebration from the Vikings who, coming from even further north than ourselves, paid even more attention to the passing of the shortest day. In Shetland, where the Viking influence was strongest, New Year is called Yules, from the Scandinavian word. Continued on p. 2 Hogmanay Traditional Celebrations 1-3 President s letter 1+3 Board Mtg Minutes 4 Hogmanay Top Facts 5 Irish Phrase 5 Chuncks of Celtic Facts 5

2 Page 2 Black Hills Celtic Society Newsletter Hogmanay Traditions ( c on t d f r om p. 1 ) It may not be widely known but Christmas was not or Catholic feast and therefore had to be banned. Many Scots had to work over Christmas and their winter solstice holiday was therefore at New Year when family and friends gathered for a party and exchange presents, especially for the children, which came to be called hogmanay. Immediately after midnight it is traditional to sing Robert Burns' "For Auld Lang Syne". Burns claimed it was based on an earlier fragment and certainly the tune was in print over 80 years before he published his version in "Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind? celebrated as a festival and virtually banned in Scotland for around 400 years, from the end of the 17th century to the 1950s. The reason for this has its roots in the Protestant Reformation when the Kirk portrayed Christmas as a Popish There are traditions before midnight such as cleaning the house on 31st December (including taking out the ashes from the fire in the days when coal fires were common). There is also the superstition to clear all your debts before "the bells" at midnight. Should auld acquaintance be forgot and auld lang syne For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, We'll take a cup o kindness yet, for auld lang syne." An integral part of the Hogmanay partying, which continues very much today, is to wel-

3 Page 3 Volume 19, Issue 12 President s Letter (cont d from page 1) Upcoming meetings in January will be the BOD on Jan.4 and the membership meeting Jan.18th, 7 PM at NAU with the program being Part 2 of the excellent History Channel video biography of the King of Scots, Robert the Bruce. We will be having a members-only Robert Burns Birthday Celebration on Sat.,Jan.21,2017 at the VFW Club on Main Street starting at 6:00 PM. The meal will be entirely Pot- Luck. Attendees are asked to bring a Celtic (preferably Scottish) hot dish, soup, stew, potato dish, vegetable, bread, salad, or dessert to share. Recipes can be found in our club's Celtic Cookbook. I have one if you want to borrow it. Many of the members that have been around a few years will also have this cookbook. I have heard that there will be haggis as the entre. The event committee of Gary Hamilton, Bill Knight, and JoAnn Wallace are working on the program of events for the evening. Please note that attendees may NOT bring alcoholic beverages into the VFW. They may be purchased from the VFW bar. Elections will be held at the February member meeting. We will need new blood to step up to the plate in several key positions, including Secretary, Vice- President, and one Board of Directors slot. If you would like to participate more fully in the challenges of keeping our organization vital by joining the inner circle of Officers and Board members, please contact either Carole Conrad ( ) or myself ( ). Best regards, Jim Byrne, President Black Hills Celtic Society Thank our sponsors: Generations Professional Coatings Heidi Hartnett Byrne Dental Black Hills Medical Billing Hogmanay (cont d from p.2) Celtic Connection come friends and strangers, with warm hospitality to wish everyone a Guid New Year. The underlying belief is to clear out the vestiges of the old year, have a clean break and welcome in a young, New Year on a happy note. Continued on p. 3 "First footing" (that is, the "first foot" in the house after midnight) is not as common as it used to be in Scotland. To ensure good luck for the house, the first foot should be male, dark (believed to be a throwback to the Viking days when blond strangers arriving on your doorstep meant trouble) and should bring symbolic coal, shortbread, salt, black bun and whisky. These days, however, whisky and perhaps shortbread are the only items still prevalent (and available) "Handselling" was the custom of gift giving on the first Monday of the New Year but this has died out. Source: know/blknow12.htm Colonial House Headlines Academy

4 Page 4 Black Hills Celtic Society Newsletter BHCS Board Meeting Minutes: Dec 7, 2016 The meeting was called to order by President Jim Byrne with members Bill Knight, Melinda Wilson and Carole Conrad present. Guests Pat & Gary Hamilton and Ron Hunter were also in attendance. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. Mike Nau reported the whiskey tasting netted $ A discussion was held on the need for better advertising & sale of more tickets to realize a larger profit. Jim Byrne reported that Dee & Trisha Walker have donated their home for the Hogmanay celebration which will be held Saturday, December 31, 2016 beginning at 6:30 to 7:00 PM. This will be a pot luck of hors d'oeurves and BYOB. Their address & directions will be in the next newsletter. The Guinness Book of World Records lists Auld Lang Syne as one of the most frequently sung songs in English. Robert Burns dinner will be held January 21, 2017 at the VFW club on Main Street. The committee will provide a report at the next meeting. Elections will be held at the February meeting. We currently are looking for a Vice President, Secretary, and one more board member. The St. Patrick's Day parade & celebration is set for March 18 & will be held at the Alex Johnson ballroom. The committee will provide a report later on the details. Ron Hunter reported that there will be a Celtic festival in Scottsbluff May 20 th and 21 st. He also reported there will be a kitchen available if we wish to sell food. They are also looking for clan tents. Ron will be attending a meeting with the organizers and will give us further details after their meeting. Jim reported the next member meeting will be Wednesday, January 18, 2017 at NAU. The program will be part 2 Robert Bruce, King of Scotts There being no further business the meeting adjourned. Carole Conrad

5 Page 5 Volume 19, Issue 12 Hogmanay Top Facts 1. Hogmanay is the Scots word for the last day of the year and is synonymous with the celebration of the New Year in the Scottish manner. 2. Nobody knows for sure where the word 'Hogmanay' came from. It may have originated from Gaelic or from Norman-French 3. Historically, Christmas was not observed as a festival and Hogmanay was the more traditional celebration in Scotland. The winter solstice holiday tended to be at New Year when family and friends gathered for a party and exchange presents, especially for the children. 4. The Bells is the phrase used to describe the midnight hour when New Year's Eve becomes New Year's Day. 5. Burns Auld Lang Syne is sung to celebrate the start of the New Year at the stroke of midnight, not just in Scotland but in many English-speaking countries. 6. The Guinness Book of World Records lists Auld Lang Syne as one of the most frequently sung songs in English. The song is sung or played in many movies, from It's a Wonderful Life to When Harry Met Sally. 7. To sing Auld Lang Syne a circle is created and hands are joined with the person on each side of you. At the beginning of the last verse, everyone crosses their arms across their breast, so that the right hand reaches out to the neighbour on the left and vice versa. When the tune ends, everyone rushes to the middle, while still holding hands. 8. An important element of Hogmanay celebrations is to welcome friends and strangers, with warm hospitality and of course a kiss to wish everyone a Guid New Year. The underlying belief is to clear out the vestiges of the old year, have a clean break and welcome in a young, New Year on a happy note. 9. First Footing the first foot in the house after midnight is still very common is Scotland. To ensure good luck, a first footer should be a dark-haired male. Fair-haired first footers were not particularly welcome after the Viking invasions of ancient times. Traditional gifts include a lump of coal to lovingly place on the host s fire, along with shortbread, a black bun and whisky to toast to a Happy New Year. 10. To first foot a household empty-handed is considered grossly discourteous, never mind unlucky! FROM: Irish Phrase - Níl aon tinteán mar do thinteán féin The Irish have an amazing way to describe people, from the liar who is described as being able to "tell lies as fast as a horse would trot" to comparing a chilly day by the following phrase "There's a step-mother's breath in the air". Gaelic: "Níl aon tinteán mar do thinteán féin" English: There s no hearth like your own hearth Meaning/Translation: "There's no place like home" Source:

6 We re on the Web! And Facebook: Officers Black Hills Celtic Society PO Box 765, Rapid City SD Business Card Sponsors Our SPONSORS business cards are scattered throughout this issue. Please consider supporting their business! For ONLY $25/year, you can also become a business card sponsor. Think about it. That translates to a bit over $2/month WHAT A DEAL!!!! President Jim Byrne Vice President John Burke Secretary Carole Conrad & Sally Knight Treasurer Mike Nau Board Members Mickey Hartnett, Heidi Hartnett, Melinda Wilson, and Mark Renken/Darwin Behnke (shared position), Bill Knight (past president) Newsletter Editor Pat Hamilton Webmaster Gary Hamilton Chunks of Celtic Facts on The Celts Celtic Paganism: Unlike their Greek and roman counterparts, the Celts worshipped no set pantheon of gods. More than 400 names of deities survive, indicating that each tribe had its own cult figures. Common threads exist, however. Just as the cross is the primary symbol for Christianity, so was the severed human head the symbol of Celtic Paganism. Since the head was imbued with special powers, severing the head of a powerful enemy could bring those powers into close proximity to the conqueror, so that he/she might possess those powers. Groves and springs were set aside as sanctuaries. Human heads and images of animals, especially boars, bulls and bears were considered sacred. The priests, known as Druids, performed the religious rites. Prepared by Susan Kains, 2011 (a past member)