Ceilidh is a must if you ever visit Scotland. it is in my opinion a lovely social activity (perhaps sparing the fact that you might at times feel the need to switch roles from being a woman to a man since there is always a shortage of men around?.but that in itself is quite fun!) where you are encouraged to be energetic and be less self-conscious about looking silly or thinking that you have 2 left feet!
i love going to Ceilidhs ?.and Ruth, my close friend from undergrad days, got me a ticket for yesterday?s fund-raising Ceilidh, organised by Reforesting Scotland, held at the Rudolph Steiner School (pretty much a rather different schooling philosophy from main-stream education?.very much into all-rounded learning education) which is walking distance from where i live. it was also held during the Celtic celebration of the end of summer known as Samhain (there was a big street fire parade on Friday evening of Halloween but unfortunately i didn?t go this time?.it must have been really amazing?..and somewhat akin to the Belthane festival i went to some years ago in May which celebrated the arrival of summer at the top of Carlton Hill).
there are many many different dances all with different combinations of couples and different patterns as to how each partner/dancer should go about dancing. the thing that doesn?t seem to change is that each couple or dancer almost always gets a chance to do a duet/solo?.so for the attention-seekers?.this one is for you!
the best bit of it is that you get such a huge shot of adrenalin/endomorphines that you feel absolutely happy! ........and of course the sight of the flying kilts is pretty fun too! :c)
at the end of each Ceilidh event is the traditional singing of Auld Lang Syne the poem that the Scottish poet, Robert Burns, wrote. in fact yesterday was the first time i learnt what the lyrics or some of it meant?..and i thought it might be worth sharing what i found out?.. at least for the first verse:
?Should all acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to mind?
Should all acquaintance be forgot, And days of auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne my dear, For auld lang syne,
We?ll take a cup of kindness yet, For auld lang syne.?
translating from old Scot, Auld lang syne literally means 'old long ago'??so the words in the song really question us whether people we have met and gotten to know, and particularly time that has gone by ?. ought to be forgotten?.and that the very roots of friendship are to embrace the past (both good and bad), and build on from the kindness you bestow onto each other?.as symbolized by holding the double handled Scottish mugs between friends. these days we hold hands with the person next to you in the circle while singing the song.
thereafter, the Ceilidh evening usually ends with a last quick Polka music which allows the addicted a last dance with whoever that is just as addicted! i danced my last Polka with a guy named Chris who is a friend of Ruth?..he is one of the most energetic dancers i have ever danced with?..my goodness i could hardly breathe!!!! (he will really need a partner with equal energy and stamina and height!) boy was it an incredibly fun night of Scottish prancing!!!!
posted by ~overacuppa~ on Sunday, 2 November, 2003 at 20:33 hrsoh yes! i can still remember dancing at the ceilidh at your friend's wedding! I had so much fun! Definitely would love to do it again when if i get the chance. :)
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