View Full Version : myths and superstitions of Caithness
HI can anyone help, my daughter is doing a project at school and she has to find out some of the local myths and superstitions of the area and I dont have a clue! Can anyone help
many thanks
Tugmistress
11-Jun-05, 20:05
The Caithness myth of Assipattle and Mester Stoorworm on which the parade was based, tells the story of town ravaged by a horrible sea beastie (there's always one). After various attempts to appease it; feeding it local virgins, sending (fearless) heroes to defeat it, even, preparing the King's daughter to become a monster meal, a local boy, Assipattle of the title, steps bravely forward to fight. He kills the beast, saves and marries the Princess (it wouldn't be right if he didn't) then it's off to the hotel for a celebratory ceilidh.
more at http://www.edinburghguide.com/aande/theatre/reviews/a/assipattle_caithnesscp.shtml
History rewritten
The draft of the Conservation Plan prepared by Field Archaeology Specialists of York University has been received by the Trust. The Earl of Caithness said “The drafting of such a Plan for the Castle is not only a major step forward in securing the long-term future of this very important site but also has revealed just how much of the history of the Castle that we have accepted is inaccurate and has had to be rewritten. We now have evidence of a castle about a hundred years earlier than was thought and it as a much more important site than originally thought. The myth that there were two Castles on the site has been laid to rest. It was always one Castle”.
more at http://www.clansinclair.org/
The Pictish Chronicle is a collection of medieval manuscripts containg several lists of Pictish kings, counting from a century or two BC to the mid-9th century AD. The 'Pictish foundation myth' that precedes the king-lists tells how Cruithne, the father of the Picts, arrived from Scythia and reigned for 100 years. He divided the land into seven areas, named after each of his seven sons:
'Seven sons of Cruithne then
Into seven divided Alban,
Cait, Ce, Cirig, a warlike clan
Fib, Fidach, Fotla, Fortrenn.'
These seven kingdoms are readily identified: Fib is Fife, Cait is Caithness, Fotlaig is Atfodla (Atholl), and Fortrenn was the district around Mentieth and Strathearn.
more at http://www.ancientworlds.net/aw/Article/391308
hope these are what you want.
google is your friend :D
neepnipper
11-Jun-05, 20:59
We sell a book in the Last House in John O'Groats full of myths and legends of Caithness and Sutherland, if you're in the area feel free to come and have a look, no obligation to buy! Pipe bands are playing in JOG tomorrow if you fancy a trip out. :o)
cullbucket
11-Jun-05, 21:10
Donno if these are myths, legends, tall tales or lies, hope they help.
There was supposed to be a massive eel called 'Beeg Cheordie' who lived in Scrabster Harbour.
There used to be a building in the grounds of Miller Academy called Mina Villa that was haunted.
There is a tunnel from Thurso River up to Haralds Tower. You can still see the entrance near the Sea Scouts Hut although it is blocked a wee way back.
Theres a bag of gold at the bottom of Thurso River at Dirlot, thrown there from the (now ruined) castle during a mill.
There is a very good book by Alan Temperley called Tales of the North Coast
It is mainly stories from the west but im sure it includes some from caithness. It has recently been republished but if you can not pick it up local Amazon have it.
The Pictish Chronicle is a collection of medieval manuscripts containg several lists of Pictish kings, counting from a century or two BC to the mid-9th century AD. The 'Pictish foundation myth' that precedes the king-lists tells how Cruithne, the father of the Picts, arrived from Scythia and reigned for 100 years. He divided the land into seven areas, named after each of his seven sons:
'Seven sons of Cruithne then
Into seven divided Alban,
Cait, Ce, Cirig, a warlike clan
Fib, Fidach, Fotla, Fortrenn.'
These seven kingdoms are readily identified: Fib is Fife, Cait is Caithness, Fotlaig is Atfodla (Atholl), and Fortrenn was the district around Mentieth and Strathearn.
more at http://www.ancientworlds.net/aw/Article/391308
There's another Cruithne "out there" too. It's sometimes known as Earth's second moon (http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/solarsystem/second_moon_991029.html).
Well, it's not a "real" moon in the sense that it's not gravitationally bound to Earth. However, Cruithne's orbit around the sun has much the same radius as Earth's orbit, so its year is almost the same as ours. Consequently, Cruithne appears to orbit the earth, but with a rather more complicated orbit (as seen from Earth) than the moon we know and love. For more details and some java animations, see here (http://burtleburtle.net/bob/physics/cruithne.html) or here (http://www.astro.uwo.ca/~wiegert/3753/3753.html).
I meant to post something about Cruithne ages ago but never got around to it. I would love to see Caithness' resident "alternative astronomer" try to account for Cruithne's orbit. :cool:
George Brims
14-Jun-05, 17:23
Actually Doc Szin it is gravitationally bound, but to both the Sun and Earth. Nothing is exempt from gravity you know (the scales told me that again this morning). The diagram on the page you referenced shows the Lagrange points where objects can sit in relatively stable "orbits" I always wonder when it is proposed to send various space telescopes to sit at the Lagrange points (gets them away from Earth but allows them to maintain position without expending fuel) if they will get there only to bang into some previously unknown piece of rock!
Actually Doc Szin it is gravitationally bound, but to both the Sun and Earth.
Gawd, I should have known better than to post such a gross oversimplification on here. I was paraphrasing from one of the sites I linked to, and I thought it would suffice. You are of course absolutely correct -- Cruithne would have been long-gone if you weren't.
Clearly, the earth-moon system is gravitationally bound in the sense that the moon would continue to orbit the earth if the sun, and hence its gravitational field, were to disappear instaneously. (Yes, I know the earth & moon would orbit about their centre-of-mass which lies not far below the earth's surface, but I am trying to keep it simple!) I would guess the author meant that Cruithne would not be gravitationally bound to the earth-moon system in the same hypothetical "disappearing sun" scenario. Maybe I should do the sums and check.
As far as I am aware, both WMAP (http://map.gsfc.nasa.gov/) and SOHO (http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/) are still in one piece, so I guess there are no hints of hitherto unknown rocks at their respective Lagrange points. Coincidentally, I think I learned that WMAP sits at L2 from Gary Hinshaw last summer -- in the same Chinese restaurant that I first met two of our regular posters two years previously. Small world innit? :D
Ok, I'll shutup now, I've taken this thread hopelessly off-topic.
George Brims
14-Jun-05, 19:33
DrSzin wrote:
Ok, I'll shutup now, I've taken this thread hopelessly off-topic.
This may be a record for off-topic - you've taken it into outer space!
Bill Fernie
14-Jun-05, 22:30
A couple of suggestions that might help in your search for information -
A book by local writer Dionald Omand entitled -
Caitheness : Lore and Legend
The booklet was published in 1995 but may still be available in local bookshops. It did cost £5.95 up until last year. If you cannot locate it try the library as you may be able to read it there.
Another interesting little booklet also by Donald Omand is more historically based -
Caithness Historic Tales published in 2001.
If you cannot locate them let me know and I will post them to you for a loan and you can send them back when the project is completed. Email me your address to bill@caithness.org
Bloody Mary anyone? [lol]
Bloody Mary anyone? [lol]
haha.... yeah, i remember that from miller academy. i think everyone has heard of her though
Donno if these are myths, legends, tall tales or lies, hope they help.
There was supposed to be a massive eel called 'Beeg Cheordie' who lived in Scrabster Harbour.
There used to be a building in the grounds of Miller Academy called Mina Villa that was haunted.
There is a tunnel from Thurso River up to Haralds Tower. You can still see the entrance near the Sea Scouts Hut although it is blocked a wee way back.
Theres a bag of gold at the bottom of Thurso River at Dirlot, thrown there from the (now ruined) castle during a mill.
The tunnel from the river comes out in the dead woods behind thurso east. I only know this cos my grandfather worked for the sinclairs. There is a ghost in thurso east, seen by the last lord thurso when the tower was still in use he stopped to let it past on the stairs, remembering shortly after there was only him in the castle. When we were younger we used to go down to the castle the busts in the garden used to glow eeriely at night.
~~Tides~~
15-Jun-05, 22:36
I thoughy Bloody <Mary was the north school?
Seems like it's a popular tale!! :Razz
Tides - the north school has the GREY LADY!! (apparently)
Apparently it`s bad luck to go over the Ord (Southwards) wearing green clothes. Especially on a Monday.
It turns out that this is the colour of the uniforms worn by the militia from Caithness on their way to the battle of Culloden on that day.
This was told to me by my then History teacher Sinclair Swanson at WHS.
LOL Bloody Mary! She's so popular, she made it all the way to Caifornia. Sassylass and I shivered many times over the many versions of that tale.
Plenty of Scots, Scots-americans, American-scots, Americans of scottish descent, Scots wannabes, and folks wearing Teuchter Tshirts here. And the stories came with them over the pond. ;) -Helen
Tides - the north school has the GREY LADY!! (apparently)
haven't heard that - what's the story?
Apparently if you run around the school shouting GREY LADY she comes to "get you".
There are a few stories but shes supposed to be connected with the shadow on the side of the school of a boy sitting at his desk - although im not sure how! Hes on the plaster and it looks wet even on dry days!!
Apparently if you run around the school shouting GREY LADY she comes to "get you".
There are a few stories but shes supposed to be connected with the shadow on the side of the school of a boy sitting at his desk - although im not sure how! Hes on the plaster and it looks wet even on dry days!!
I've seen the boy at the desk. One night when I've had too many wines - I'll try the running and shouting bit! Care to join me?
Hahaaha Grey lady thats a blast from the past, I remember we used to run roond e north school shouting for the Grey Lady. Only thing was it used to be the Janitor that would come out and chase you, [lol]
Hahaaha Grey lady thats a blast from the past, I remember we used to run roond e north school shouting for the Grey Lady. Only thing was it used to be the Janitor that would come out and chase you, [lol]
Maybe she was in drag!
I've seen the boy at the desk. One night when I've had too many wines - I'll try the running and shouting bit! Care to join me?[/quote]
OMG NOOOO!!! Even at my age now I couldnt do it!! ( I was told too many stories as a child)!!! Mind you after a few glasses it might be funny. [lol]
Powered by vBulletin® Copyright © 2024 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.