Scotlands Genealogy

Wednesday, 2 February 2011

Candlemas 2 February

Today is Candlemas another of the old Scottish Quarter days when farm contracts,leases,rents began and ended.Originally known as Imbolc in the pre-Christian calendar it was used to foretell the rest of the winter weather. It falls on the midpoint of winter half way between the shortest day and the spring equinox.Christianity adopted the day to mark the cleansing of the Virgin Mary after the birth of Jesus and the church to bless new candles for the coming year.
Good weather at Candlemas is taken to indicate severe winter weather would follow. In Scotland the emergence of snakes from the ground became Groundhogs in the United States and Canada. This aspect of Candlemas evolved into Groundhog Day. If the Groundhog could see its shadow,there will be 40 more days of winter.

If Candlemas day be dry and fair,

The half o the Winter's to come and mair;

If Candlemas day be wet and foul,

The half o the Winter's gane at Yule.

Sunday, 2 January 2011

Adam Smith 1723-1790 : Economist and Philosopher

Following lasts weeks blog about Ebenezer Scroggie alias 'Scrooge' I thought it timely to continue the economic monetary theme with Adam Smith the famous economist. There is a closer connection between the two characters than is often realised,. Ebenezer Scroggie was also born in Kirkcaldy, and his mother was niece to Adam Smith. Both were finally laid to rest in the Canongate cemetery

In 2008 a 10ft bronze statue funded entirely by private subscription and the Adam Smith Institute was erected to him in the Royal Mile,Edinburgh. Efforts continue to maintain his Canongate memorial in one of 5 sites in Edinburgh designated World Heritage areas to be classified 'at risk' by the World Monuments Fund.

Famous for his original thinking and deemed the father of modern economics and capitalism,many of his quotes are still applicable today. Plus ca change,plus c'est la meme chose!

There is no art which one government sooner learns of another than that of draining money from the pockets of the people.

The Wealth Of Nations, Book V Chapter II Part II, Appendix to Articles I&II, p. 861, para. 12.

It is the highest impertinence and presumption… in kings and ministers, to pretend to watch over the economy of private people, and to restrain their expense... They are themselves always, and without any exception, the greatest spendthrifts in the society. Let them look well after their own expense, and they may safely trust private people with theirs. If their own extravagance does not ruin the state, that of their subjects never will.

The Wealth Of Nations, Book II, Chapter III, p.346, para. 36.

Sunday, 26 December 2010

A Christmas Carol- Scrooge or Scroggie

Most people are familiar with Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol and the central character Scrooge, but not many will know that Ebenezer Scrooge was based on an Edinburgh worthy.
Dickens visited Edinburgh in 1841 and while passing time visited the graveyard of the Canongate Church.Here he came across the gravestone of Ebenezer Scroggie,Mealman died 1836. Dickens misread this as 'meanman' and 'Scrooge' for Scroggie. Two years later A Christmas Carol was published to great acclaim. Ebenezer Lennox Scroggie was born in Kirkcaldy a cousin of the famous economist Adam Smith. He found great wealth in Edinburgh as a merchant vintner and town councillor. Noted for his licentious behaviour,generosity and parties,he could not have been more unlike his character in the book.Dickens had entered in his diary following the visit:
'to be remembered through eternity only for being mean seemed the greatest testament to a life wasted.'
Unfortunately the gravestone of Ebenezer Scroggie was removed in the 1930s and even the use of his forename fell out of favour with parents not wishing to bestow it on their sons.

Sunday, 19 December 2010

First Female Herald in Scotland Appointed

The Court of the Lord Lyon has appointed Elizabeth Roads nee Bruce to become the first female herald in Scotland and the UK. The former Lyon Clerk and Keeper of the Records to the Lord Lyon, she has worked in the court since 1975 and was appointed clerk in 1986. In 1992 she was made Carrick Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary and was a founding member of the Heraldry Society of Scotland later becoming a Fellow of the Heraldry Society of Scotland and the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada.

Wednesday, 15 December 2010

Scottish Clan and Family DNA Projects - D

Tuesday, 23 November 2010

Scottish Korean War Memorial

Last weekend I went for a walk in the Bathgate Hills and discovered this little known war memorial,which due to recent events in South Korea I thought appropriate to share with a wider audience.Erected in memory to those who were killed in the Korean War 1950-53 it is situated in the Bathgate Hills near to Beecraigs Park.Built in traditional Korean style,the small wooden pagoda is surrounded by 110 Korean pine trees (one for every ten Britons who died in the conflict), 1090 Birch trees (one for each of the fallen) and picnic tables along a pathway named United Nations Avenue. This avenue is surrounded by 21 trees, representing the twenty-one nations involved in the UN force in Korea. Inside the pagoda contains lists of those who died in the conflict. More than 200 Scots were killed.The pagoda,erected in 2000 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the start of the war is soon to be demolished and replaced with a new one.

Thursday, 11 November 2010

Martinmas 11 November

Today is not only Armistice,Remembrance and Veterans Day but also the feast of St Martin. Originally cattle were slaughtered and salted for the winter and Border Reiving was at its peak between Michaelmas 29Sept and Martinmas 11 Nov.This was one of the old Scottish quarter days of the year on which certain payments,rent and interest were due and leases began and ended. Contracts of employment also started and terminated on this day and were regular events in the countryside and towns. The Term Days Whitsun and Martinmas together with Candlemas and Lammas constituted the Quarter days. In 1886 term dates for removals and the hiring of servants in towns changed to 28 November. The Old Scottish term days were finally regulated to the 28 Feb,May.Aug and November by the Term and Quarter Days (Scotland) Act 1990. Martinmas is still remembered as the first or autumn term in the universities of St Andrews and Glasgow.