Nature and The Universe

  • Clootie / Cloutie Wells

    ‘Cloutie’ or ‘Clootie’ wells are the name given to wells/springs, usually with a tree growing in close proximity, where strips of cloth and rags are left as part of a traditional healing ritual. They have been described as ‘… a survival of the age-old veneration of life-giving springs. Those suffering from illness hung a rag by the spring in the hope that their disease would decay along with the rag.’ ( www.walkhighlands.co.uk/lochness/Ormondcastle.shtml ) There are several of these still i... Read More

  • First-footing

    A First foot (or 'fit') is the first person to enter your house or cross your threshhold after midnight on 31st December or Hogmanay. Traditionally a dark-haired man (or even a coalman) was thought to bring good luck, but anyone can be your first foot and you can be anyone else's. Again traditionally, when first-footing, you should take a lump of coal (fuel), whisky and Black Bun (sustenance) to the household. ... Read More

  • Fishermen's Superstitions - Cockenzie and Port Seton

    While fewer of the younger generation of fishermen adhere to these, some still feel it is bad luck to mention certain birds, fish and animals either on their boats,at home, or at all. In the fishing villages of Cockenzie Port Seton near Edinburgh these include swans, salmon, pigs and rats. Instead, fishermen will refer to a 'red fish' (salmon), a 'curly tail' (pig) and a 'long tail' (rat). One man in Port Seton was overheard asking the shop assistant in the local 'store' for matches and "not the ones wit... Read More

  • Living traditions surrounding Holy Wells, Historic Springs and Sacred Waters in Scotland

    Holy or sacred wells, historic springs and related 'watery sites' are places in the landscape where 'knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe' are enacted. These sites continue to be visited in Scotland for a variety of reasons; sometimes waters are perceived to have healing power or health-bestowing properties; sometimes the places themselves are thought to be efficacious because of their natural beauty, historical or spiritual significance. Holy wells are also entwined in other tradition... Read More

  • May Day Face Washing, Arthur's Seat

    Some people still get up early enough on May Day (1st of May) to climb Arthur's Seat - the extinct volcano at the centre of Hoyrood Park, Edinburgh - to wash their faces in the morning dew as the sun rises. It was believed that this would bring females eternal beauty.... Read More

  • Rowan Trees

    The tradition of planting a Rowan tree in a garden is still followed by some. The Rowan was believed to afford the house and its inhabitants protection from witches. Consequently, it is considered very bad luck to cut down a Rowan tree! The manifold uses of the rowan tree included it being grown for suitable timber for tool handles. It was known for its strength and density, which is advantageous when it comes to making handles for spades, cas-chrom, spinning wheels and walking sticks. Hugh Cheape descri... Read More

  • Scotland's Year of Stories 2022 Project: Solidarity for All - Africa Delice

    This community cooking session took place in Glasgow. The aim was to teach the community how to cook dishes from different African Cultures and to hold a celebration event involving the wider community. Mireille Njike: "The aim of the event is for refugees to have a forum through which they can meet new faces and share the struggles they have encountered from leaving their countries to the difficulties here in Glasgow. We offer an avenue for people to know they are not alone and through some stories ... Read More

  • Scotland's Year of Stories 2022 Project: Telling Old Stories and Singing Songs, Journey to the Isles: Marjory Kennedy Fraser plus The Loves of Mary Queen of Scots

    Programme strand in the Hippodrome Silent Film Festival March 2022. The strand included a new commission for Marion Kenny: one of Scotland’s leading storytellers, and award-winning musician, singer and songwriter: Mairi Campbell, to respond to two films in the National Library of Scotland (NLS) Moving Image Archive featuring Marjory Kennedy Fraser (1857 – 1930). Fraser was one of the foremost folksong collectors and composers in Scotland. She visited many of the islands to the west of Scotland, recordi... Read More

  • Scotland's Year of Stories Project: Objects Speak Louder Than Words

    Greater Govanhill community magazine celebrated the diversity of the local community with FONDS: Objects Speak Louder Than Words. Residents in the area brought objects that were special to them to be photographed by Morwenna Kearsley and these objects were the focus of interviews with participants, inspiring memories and musings of family, identity and home. Objects from Kuwait, Brazil, Afghanistan and Romania are all featured. You can access the wide range of objects and interviews here: https://www.gr... Read More

  • Scotland's Year of Stories Project: A Yarn Worth Spinning

    "A Yarn worth Spinning" project and event was a celebration of the role of textiles in shaping the identity of the Scottish Borders and the iconic place of the Scottish Borders in the history of textiles and fashion. The project viewed the story of textiles in the Scottish Borders as a multi-scale, interconnected narrative of fashion, ethics, nature, industry, and community. This was achieved through an exhibition and film, aimed at engaging an a range of audiences in the region. In collaboration with H... Read More

  • Scotland's Year of Stories Project: Arctic Ventures: Forgotten Stories of Scottish Whaling

    In September 2022, The Scottish Fisheries Museum unvield new version of their Scottish Whaling Gallery, enriched with a bespoke installation of textile art, inviting visitors to make a deeper and more imaginative connection with the subject matter. The main narrative of the exhibition aligned Anstruther and the museum’s building itself with the background of the wider story of Scottish Whaling, drawing out untold stories of the Northern Whale Fisheries from smaller Scottish ports including Anstruther’s ... Read More

  • Scotland's Year of Stories Project: Beyond 2020: Community Reflections

    The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the lives of East Renfrewshire residents was recorded in Beyond 2020: Community Reflections. Photographs, interviews and new writing explore the challenges and unexpected benefits of lockdown; an exhibition accompanied the project, touring five libraries across East Renfrewshire in 2022. Explore the stories and oral history interviews here: https://www.ercultureandleisure.org/beyond-2020-homepage/ This event was supported by the Year of Stories 2022 Community Sto... Read More

  • Scotland's Year of Stories Project: Cliabh an t-Seanachais (Creel of Stories)

    The importance of the fishing industry to the communities of the Ross of Mull and Iona was recorded in a new film Cliabh an t-Seanachais (Creel of Stories). The film was created in collaboration with Alasdair Satchel of Struthach Films, and celebrated the islands fishing stories and the place of the fishing industry in the fabric of the local area. Alasdair also created the What We Do in the Winter podcasts series. Children at Bunessan and Iona Primary Schools were invited to take part in the film - contrib... Read More

  • Scotland's Year of Stories Project: Fables at the Stables

    Cassiltoun Housing Association (originally Castlemilk East Housing Co-op) is the oldest community ownership Housing Co-operative in Glasgow, being registered with the Industrial and Provident Society in December 1984. Castlemilk is one of Glasgow’s peripheral housing schemes and was originally built on a green field site in the 1950s/1960’s. The area changed dramatically with the decline of manufacturing industry in the West of Scotland. Castlemilk suffered from a lack of facilities within the community... Read More

  • Scotland's Year of Stories Project: Family Encounters - New Stories Strand

    Two new stories were performed at the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh for the International Children's Festival. "Where are you?" by Theatre Sans Accents was inspired by classic children’s tales such as Redwall and The Animals of the Farthing Wood, in which animals take on human characteristics and fight their animal instincts to face adversity together and survive. Performers explained how the performance aims to ‘put the audience in the place of migrants, moving from place to place’, adding t... Read More

  • Scotland's Year of Stories Project: Fisherfolk Storytelling & Song

    The Seaboard Centre (https://seaboardcentre.com/) runs an annual Fisherfolk Festival in Balintore. Funding from VisitScotland’s 2022 Year of Storytelling enabled this annual festival to invite three resident storytellers, and a Pictish domestic re-enactment group - the Rhynie Wifies - to perform. Ian Stephen of Lewis shared his rich accounts of fishing and the sea, Ross-shire favourite Bob Pegg shared his celebrated expertise of the tales and music of the Picts, and Pauline Cordiner told stories of the se... Read More

  • Scotland's Year of Stories Project: Gairloch Museum's Festival of Stories

    Gairloch Museum Festival of Stories This locally inspired festival of stories, supported by the Year of Stories 2022 Community Stories Fund, was built around a room for stories, a room for community. A key focus of the museum’s wider events programme is ways to combat the social isolation compounded by the pandemic. The gallery was converted into a taigh cèilidh venue within the museum for the 10 days of the festival. taigh cèilidh a party, gathering, or the like, at which dancing, singing, and ... Read More

  • Scotland's Year of Stories Project: George Mackay Brown Trail in Stromness

    If ever there was a writer that is associated with a particular place, it is George Mackay Brown. He was born in Stromness and lived here all his life, seldom leaving the town he loved so much and which shaped his work. His subject was Orkney, its people, legends and history. Seen as one of the great Scottish poets of the 20th century and influential well beyond the bounds of Orkney, he was renowned for his ‘astonishing clarity and sureness of imagery.’ Two events in April 2022, organised by the ... Read More

  • Scotland's Year of Stories Project: Harbour Voices (Aberdeen)

    The 'Harbour Voices' project culminated in a series of true story podcasts showcasing and celebrating the lives and livelihoods of the people who call the harbour area of Aberdeen home. They share insights from residents old and new into what it’s like living at the edge of a global port and the North Sea and give voice to those who work in and around the busy harbourside. Aberdeen Harbour sits at the heart of the city centre. It is one of the few cities in the world whose harbour is so central to our her... Read More

  • Scotland's Year of Stories Project: Object of my desire

    At 11 libraries across West Lothian, library users brought in objects that were special to them or that had stories to tell. One session in particular focussed around lost mining communities in West Lothian and the memories around mining culture users had while growing up. Other stories centred around school days and characters remembered from childhood. The objects brought in became catalysts for many stories about growing up, families and childhood memories. The sessions were held in libraries in Bathg... Read More

  • Scotland's Year of Stories Project: One Life, Two Cultures

    On the evening of Saturday 24 September African and Caribbean Elders in Scotland (ACES) hosted an online event offering a sneak peek at stories collected as part of their oral history project, One Life, Two Cultures. Twenty-five people attended the session. Nine different speakers shared their stories of life in Scotland and what it was like to move to the country from Ghana, Mauritius, Sierra Leone, Jamaica, the Gambia, Uganda, and Nigeria. Participants joined in from all over Scotland, including Glasgow, ... Read More

  • Scotland's Year of Stories Project: Orkney, Scotland and Norway: Stories in music and verse

    The Institute for Northern Studies at UHI were proud to present an incredible free concert celebrating the links between Orkney, Scotland, and Norway. The evening showcased some of the very best Orkney-based musicians. Ian Crockatt performed translated verses by Earl Rǫgnvaldr Kali Kolsson, as well as new compositions inspired by the story of his life, in the cathedral he himself had built. This allowed locals and visitors alike to experience the best of Orkney’s culture past and present in one of Orkney... Read More

  • Scotland's Year of Stories Project: Our Stories: Traditional Gaelic Storytelling

    Auchindrain – the last surviving Scottish Highland Township, based near Inveraray in Argyll – celebrated Scotland’s Year of Stories by presenting a new series of Argyll folk tales on their YouTube channel. The stories were delivered in the local Gaelic dialect and videos are subtitled in both Argyll Gaelic and English, giving viewers an opportunity to learn a little of this rarely spoken dialect of the Gaelic language. The series takes us back to a way of life that has been largely forgotten and gives... Read More

  • Scotland's Year of Stories Project: Our Woodland Stories

    Evanton Community Wood celebrated their 10th anniversary by involving their regular users and new visitors in creating, enjoying and being inspired by stories relating to the wood, the wider local area and participant's imaginations. Storytelling events took place throughout the year exploring themes of midsummer, environmental champions, stories from other cultures, Samhain and midwinter. The programme culminated with a mini festival of storytelling, artwork and music. This event was supported by the Ye... Read More

  • Scotland's Year of Stories Project: Project 31's Park Life

    Project 31’s ‘Park Life’ Project celebrated the stories of Cambuslang Park, a local green space which has been central to the area since 1913. Spanning ten hectares it is packed with local legend and folklore much of which remains unknown by those living nearby. The events saw local primary school classes invited to the park to explore it’s wider history and focus on one particular legend, choosing from The Quarry, The Zoo, and The War or The Witches. Much of the information had been gathered throu... Read More

  • Scotland's Year of Stories Project: Scotland’s Identities Past and Present

    There were two strands to these storytelling sessions. "Summer of Stories" brought to life traditional African folk tales, as inspired by objects within the Hunterian museums recent intervention, "Curating Discomfort". This allowed for new interpretations of objects within our collection, told from the perspective of Suleman "Chief" Chebe, a new Scot of Ghanaian heritage. The second session was entitled "Which Mary Are You?" with stories focussed upon the various guises of Mary Queen of Scots - the Princes... Read More

  • Scotland's Year of Stories Project: Standing Tall Stories

    Standing Tall Stories was a project working with separated young people seeking asylum in Scotland. The young people are supported by Scottish Guardianship Service, which provides tailored support for unaccompanied children in Scotland. In celebration of Refugee Festival Scotland on Saturday 18th of June Standing Tall Stories hosted an afternoon of arts, music, and food at Scottish Youth Theatre to celebrate the launch of this project and the work we have made so far. This event was catered by Afro-Fusion C... Read More

  • Scotland's Year of Stories Project: Stories from the Kist

    Tobar an Dualchais/Kist o Riches organised two storytelling events in May 2022 as part of Scotland’s Year of Stories. A workshop was held for people interested in storytelling to help them develop their storytelling skills with assistance from two highly experienced storytellers, Donald Smith and Ruth Kirkpatrick, who told stories from the many to be found on the TAD/KoR website. ‘Stories from the Kist’ was a special evening of storytelling in Scots and Doric in which three of Scotland’s most gifted... Read More

  • Scotland's Year of Stories Project: Stories of Nairn

    In celebration of ‘Scotland’s Year of Stories’, and in partnership with International arts company Kinetika and Highland artist- storyteller Lizzie McDougall, the Nairn Books & Arts Festival worked with local community groups to develop ‘Stories of Nairn’ . This was a collection of 20 silk flags, encapsulating in striking visual form, some of Nairn’s stories – "who we are, what we love about our town, where we come from, and the characters, histories, languages, myths and legends that make up... Read More

  • Scotland's Year of Stories Project: Tales of a Travelling Scotland & Roma Cultural Festival

    Ando Glaso was established in 2016 to encourage greater understanding and participation in the cultural heritage of the Roma people in Scotland aiming at stimulating and advancing community cohesion that is built on respect for celebrating diverse cultural identities. The organisation was initiated by a dedicated group of Roma volunteers who shared the passion and desire to further encourage links between the Roma and Scottish diverse cultures at several levels including support and understanding through th... Read More

  • Scotland's Year of Stories Project: The Calder Witch Hunt

    The Calder witch hunt started in December 1643 and lasted about 18 months. At Calder all of the people who were accused of witchcraft were women. At least five of them were executed: Helen Stewart, Jonet Bruce, Agnes Bischope, Agnes Vassie and Marion Gibsone. We know that people at Calder were kept in stocks, made to wear sackcloth, were sleep deprived (Margret Thomsone was kept awake for 26 days), and beaten. They were also forced to name other people as witches. In 1644 the minister, Hew Kennedie, wrot... Read More

  • Scotland's Year of Stories Project: The Dance and the Story, Mary Queen of Scots and Robert Burns

    THE DANCE AND THE STORY consisted of two activities for adults and children. ROBERT BURNS LEARNS TO DANCE : Storytelling and Historical Dance project for the adult community of Sanquhar, Scotland. Dance was also one of Robert Burns great passion's and influenced many of his songs and poems it is said that he loved to step onto the dance floor. In 1779 he took his first lesson aged 17 yrs in Tarbolton,Aryshire, against the wishes of his father. The project worked with researcher Sue Knight and her published ... Read More

  • Scotland's Year of Stories Project: The Journey: Personal testimonies of Africans living and working in Scotland

    “The Journey: Personal Testimonies of Africans living and working in Scotland" consisted of interviews conducted with members of the Scots-African community by Dr Sue Morrison; there was also music by Glasgow Small Pipers and food provided by Olivia Ndoti and other members of Women Integration Network (WIN) who prepared varied delicious array of International food & beverages. Olivia made a speech about importance of Black History Month, and Sean Reid facilitated "Integration through Proverbs", an explora... Read More

  • Scotland's Year of Stories Project: The Phone Box – East Linton voices shared down the line

    In a converted phone box on the High Street in East Linton, East Lothian, the voices, memories, stories, people and sounds of the area were preserved. The sound installation was available in the phone box from Saturday 27th August to Sunday 11th September, and catalogued for posterity here https://www.catherinewheels.co.uk/projects/east-linton-voices/. This event was supported by the Year of Stories 2022 Community Stories Fund. This fund was delivered in partnership between VisitScotland and Museums Gall... Read More

  • Scotland's Year of Stories Project: The Story of Dumbarton West

    Clifftop Projects partnered with local filmmaker Joseph Dalton and traditional storyteller Anne Pitcher to film 'The Wee Birlin' Bannock's Adventures in West Dumbarton' in September 2022. We worked with a community cast of 20 to tell local stories filmed in a number of locations from where William Wallace is said to have hidden from the English to Knowetop farm where Robert the Bruce had his hunting ground. The film will be screened in November in Dumbarton West before being available to view online. ww... Read More

  • Scotland's Year of Stories Project: Travel in Time - Revisiting places of the past - The Lochaber series

    Photographer and history researcher Estelle Slegers Helsen teamed up with West Highland Museum to compare and contrast Lochaber of the 1940s-60s with the present day in Travel in Time. By showing photos originally taken by W.S. Thomson alongside her contemporary remakes, Estelle prompted local people to share their recollections of the places depicted – from Mallaig to Rannoch Moor. Check out the photos and stories on the Travel in Time blog - https://www.travelintime.uk/ This event was supported by th... Read More

  • Scotland's Year of Stories Project: Unforgotten Highland Women

    A jewel thief, a witch, a doctor and an inspirational teacher are just some of the stories of incredible Highland women revealed from museum archives. Unforgotten Highland Women is a short podcast series, recorded at live events across the Highlands of Scotland, about remarkable local women. Pauline Moore - podcaster and freelance producer - with support from the team at XpoNorth was commissioned by Museums and Heritage Highland to host these events, interviewing the keepers of the tales, sharing the storie... Read More

  • Scotland's Year of Stories Project: Untold Orcadian Stories

    In the Orcadian Stories films community group from Orkney set about interviewing people who have made a valuable contribution to the community through arts, culture, and/or voluntary work, and who may not have a high public profile. Some were quite well known locally, but not nationally. The project team spoke to three individuals who were instrumental in the initial success of the St. Magnus Festival, all of whom emphasised that it was the mixture of visiting professionals with highly motivated and skil... Read More

  • Scotland's Year of Stories Project: Up the Middle Road: Crichton Stories of Recovery and Resilience

    The project shone a light on the Crichton Royal in Dumfries; an asylum with many hidden histories. Patients’ and staff’s first-hand stories were shared, in words and songs, as well as tours of the landscaped estate. ‘Up the Middle Road’ is the local name for the former Crichton Royal Asylum, founded 1838 in Dumfries. This event shared its lived experiences of mental health – until recently, buried in a culture of silence. Through words and music, the voices of former patients, nurses, support s... Read More

  • Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022 Project: Crossing the Ken

    Families of Glenkens turned out on a glorious sunny day to celebrate Scotland’s Year of Stories and the bicentenary of the iconic Ken Bridge. 150 people joined a parade which carried puppet dragons, birds and airplanes to under the Ken Bridge. Local story teller Anne Errington told tales of ancient Scottish folklore mixed with stories from New Galloway. Under the beautiful arches of the Ken Bridge, families picnicked next to Mark Zygadlo’s Water Organ. A fantastical contraption based on an 18 ft ... Read More

  • Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022 Project: The Disappeared Village

    Held in collaboration with Moray Libraries, this exhibition and series of events took place between February and March 2022 at Elgin Library. The exhibition focused on a village on the South shore of the Moray Firth which was destroyed and abandoned as a result of the Great Sand Drift of 1694. While there are scientific and natural explanations for the disappearance of the village, stories of myth and legend about the people, land and events that unfolded have shrouded Culbin in mystery. This exhibition ... Read More

  • The Loch Ness

    The Loch Ness is a deep, large and freshwater loch situated on the Scottish Highlands, extending for approximatively 37 miles. It's connected to the River Oich and a section of the Caledonian canal to Loch Oich. It became widely known for the alleged sightings of the Loch Ness monster, when it was first brought up in 1933. Its the second largest Scottish loch after Loch Morar.... Read More

  • Tradfest

    Each year Edinburgh is home to Tradfest TradFest celebrates Scotland’s May festivals – Beltane and Mayday – which traditionally mark the beginning of summer, bringing energy and colour to the capital city as the greening of the year breaks out. Venues include Calton Hill, the Royal Mile, The Pleasance, the Scottish Storytelling Centre, Filmhouse, Queens Hall, Summerhall, George Square Theatre and Dance Base. The TradFest Trail highlights craft shops, galleries, pub sessions, instrument makers, book... Read More

  • Weather Predictions

    Traditional Scots language sayings relating to the weather: If the deer lies doon on Martinmas Day Oo'll hae six weeks o rain. ... Read More

Can't Find What You Are Looking For?

The content on this site is provided and maintained by people just like you. We need your contributions for this site to represent the wide range of ICH activity taking place in Scotland. If you would like to add an entry to the site, please sign up and become a contributor.

Contribute to ICH Scotland

Connect With Us