Well, we’ve come to our series end wee readers, and I have to say I’ve really enjoyed this blog series. My photos always come out twice as better than I think they will. But everything has its time, and now the mailing list has been released we must say goodbye to ‘All Hallow’s Holiday’.
And yes wee readers this is the very playlist in which we listened to on our travels … which might explain somewhat why it’s so very long. I love making playlists for my family’s holidays because there’s always a song for everyone.
Well, Wee Readers, we’ve finally reached our end – or rather the last part of our journey that’s memorable enough to write about – but don’t fear we’re not quite done yet. For like most of the blog series I make this one will end in the mailing list.
And yes, I have indeed devoted a whole blog post in this series just to tell you that. So, while your already a little disappointed let’s play a game.
Can anyone tell me where this is?
All those who guess right can help themselves to the biscuit of their choice from their own cupboards . And for all of those who guessed wrong…well, I guess you’re just going to have to sign up to The Wee Mailing List if you haven’t already by the 14th of February to find out where it is.
In fact everyone should do that because I’m not saying it here.
Well, our next stop was a walk in Speymouth forest.
Speymouth forest is large, measuring about 9,945 acres in total.
It is located on the right bank of the River Spey – hence, probably, the name – in the area of Moray. I would give more facts but I’ll be honest these posts are really more about the photos.
What Ho, Wee Readers and Welcome to the first post of the All Hallow’s Holiday. Our first stop takes us to the village of Portsoy and yes we are in a graveyard. You may find it creepy but I find it thematic.
Built in the early part of the 7th Century – so it’s said – this well is covered by a stone cupola standing opposite the gravestones of Portsoy.
Said to be built near the sight of church dedicated to St. Columba this sight has an almost eery feel to it when you step past that stone arch and into the well beyond.
The well is replenished by a fresh water spring.
And kept hidden in an earth mound of possible ancient origins.
Well, that was our first stop now back onto the road towards our holiday cottage.
Well, Wee Readers, the Challenge has ended and now we step into the future by taking a look to the past. Yes, I know that doesn’t really make sense but follow me.
Last Halloween I went on a little holiday. I had been planning to blog about it at the time but the release schedule for the 300 challenge posts had gotten too rigorous and it was just easier to focus on them instead. But now I have time for everything else … so we’re going to take a little delve back to the end of October and beginning of November of 2025 when a certain Wee Writing Lassie took a holiday up to Nairn.
As is my usually style I will separate this story into separate blog posts, detailing individual moments from my Wee Holiday, ending with a final one (not counting the playlist) that I will release on the Wee Mailing List. So make sure to sign up for that today to not miss the final adventure of the Wee Writing Lassie on her All Hallow’s Holiday.
Well, this is the last day of my holiday – which means this will be the last post in The Twelve Days of Christmas Folklore & History Blog series to be put up on the blog first. So remember to sign up to the Wee Mailing List to receive the final days of this Blog series – which will be released in a Newsletter on the 26th of December.
Let’s push on.
On the last day of my Christmas Holidays my employer gave to me…one hell of a Christmas Party!
The Twelfth Night was an old Christian Holiday marking the end of “The Twelve Days of Christmas”. Interestingly it’s actually on January 5th depending on the time of counting. Well, I found it’s interesting- since I don’t usually associate January with anything Christmas related.
In 567 A.D to fix an “administrative problem” with matching their Roman Calendar with the lunar calendars used in various regions of their Empire, The Council of Tours declared “The Twelve Days of Christmas” a sacred time, establishing the tradition of “Advent fasting” to usher in the feast.
While there are many traditions associated with this medieval rager – not least among which was the custom of going from house-to-house singing, often referred to as wassailing (wait a minute, we’ve heard that name before) – I think my favourite would have to be the Twelfth Night Cake. Which is – as you might expect – a cake, but hidden inside this confectionery hides one bean and one pea. And whom so ever finds the bean shall be king for the night; and whoever finds the pea shall be queen.
Again, if I’m getting any of this wrong please tell me down below in the comments.
As I write this I realise that I’m probably not doing this wickedly fun festival justice. I mean this is only a short blog post, it’s not like I’ve got a novel’s worth of space…oooh idea. Are you into the Twelfth Night? The Twelve Days of Christmas? Good. Then go read The Mermaid and the Bear by Ailish Sinclair. Not only will you find multiple chapters detailing this fascinating tradition, but romance, humour and perhaps even a witch trial or two. Which is always fun, for the reader anyway – maybe less so for the characters.
If you’ve enjoyed this Christmas Folklore / tradition titbit, why not Follow the Wee blog if you haven’t already. And remember to check me out on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, Tumblr, TikTok, Kofi and Facebook. Until Next time Wee Readers, have a very bonny day and a very merry Holiday season.
On the Eighth Day of my Christmas Holidays my Employer gave to me…eight dead birds with stuffing up their butts.
As far as we can look back human societies have been celebrating their winter festivals with midwinter feasts. They would have looked slightly different to the roast turkey and stuffing pictured above – heck I’m vegan so mine doesn’t even look like that – but the feeling would have been the same.
Archaeological finds have shown that feasts were conducted during celebrations of the pagan midwinter solstice. With the main meats being pork and beef – which would either be cooked over a spit or chopped up and used in winter stews. Alongside the meat would be seasonal fruits like crabapples or berries, different from us and yet not at all.
From the Romans with their Saturnalia, to the Monks of the Middle Ages with their special spices and roasted fish – humans have been using food to eat away at our winter worried from the very start.
Jump to Tudor times and things are looking down right decedent at our Christmas tables. Or at least the tables of the wealthy. Not only is this the arrival of the Turkey into England , – in 1523 – we also have things like blackbirds, badgers and swans filling the feasts of Henry VIII. Not to mention the mince meat pies, which back then were the size of a baby’s cradle.
Come the Georgian period, the Brussel Sprout makes its first appearance- at least on the British plate.
By Victorian times, this midwinter feast has become a smaller more intimate affair. With trimmings like roasted parsnips and potatoes, along with a cooked goose making it’s way onto even the most humble of plates.
And come to today where we celebrate this midwinter feast in anyway we so choose – nut roasts, KFC, Chinese Food – it really doesn’t matter. Just so long as you’re stuffing yourself silly, you’re continuing this wonderful tradition. Oh, I promised myself I wouldn’t cry.
If you’ve enjoyed this Christmas Folklore / tradition titbit, why not Follow the Wee blog if you haven’t already. And remember to check me out on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, Tumblr, TikTok, Kofi and Facebook. Until Next time Wee Readers, have a very bonny day and a very merry Holiday season. Remember to sign up to the Wee Mailing List to receive the final days of the Blog series.
On the Sith Day of my Christmas holiday my employer gave to me….oh my god what’s that!
Okay so, I said I was going to talk about some folklore on this folklore Christmas blog series, so let’s talk about some Folklore. Just…just don’t look into his eyes and everything should be okay.
Appearing in the visage of a monstrous goat man in the Central and Eastern Alpine Folklore – Krampus was said to join Saint Nicolas in visiting houses on December 5th. While Good old St. Nick would give presents like oranges and chocolate to the good kids, Krampus would punish the bad ones by hitting them with birch sticks.
Which is certainly not nice, but it’s a bit of a leap from that to…well…we’ve all seen the film.
You haven’t?
Oh you should, it’s really good.
And since I can’t seem to stop myself let’s end on a bit of history.
While people have theorised that the myth of Krampus has pre-Cristian roots, particularly in traditional Alpine traditions – what with the celebrations involving him dating back to at least the 6th or 7th century – there is no written sources of him until the end of the 16th century.
Like always if I’ve left anything out or gotten something wrong, mention it down below in the comments. It’s why I have them.
If you’ve enjoyed this Christmas Folklore / tradition titbit, why not Follow the Wee blog if you haven’t already. And remember to check me out on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, Tumblr, TikTok, Kofi and Facebook. Until Next time Wee Readers, have a very bonny day and a very merry Holiday season. Remember to sign up to the Wee Mailing List to receive the final days of the Blog series.
On the Fifth Day of my Christmas Holidays my employer gave to me…Five Carol Singers!
Christmas Carols as a tradition can be traced as far back as 4th century Rome, where they were grim hymns sung all in Latin. In the 9th and 10 century, European monasteries made Christmas “sequences” and “prose” into rhythmic stanzas.
However recognizable English Christmas carols wouldn’t appear – at least in a recorded way – until 1426 when Chaplain John Awdlay listed twenty-five “carols of cristemas” in one of his works. Songs undoubtedly already made popular by groups calling themselves ‘wassailers’ who went from house to house singing the hymns. In fact, many carols originated from communal songs sung during all kinds of celebrations, and not just Christmas.
Flash forward to the 19th century where the publication of the first “Christmas music books” suddenly expanded the popularity of carols beyond all previous expectations.
So if you’re bugged at your door this Christmas by people in Victorian garbs singing ‘God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen’, you can blame it on the Romans. Hmm…most of this has been just plain history not much Folklore, oh well there’s always tomorrow.
If you’ve enjoyed this Christmas Folklore / tradition titbit, why not Follow the Wee blog if you haven’t already. And remember to check me out on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, Tumblr, TikTok, Kofi and Facebook. Until Next time Wee Readers, have a very bonny day and a very merry Holiday season. Remember to sign up to the Wee Mailing List to receive the final days of the Blog series.
The Wee Writing Lassie 