Gaelic College

 July 21, 2023

Bras d'Or Lakes CG site 18

Baddeck, NS

Today's adventure was educational as well as entertaining.  It was off to the Gaelic College for their tour presentation with an emphasis on sharing the Scottish Highland history/culture.  There were 5 interactive stations, scheduled in half hour sessions, that began with Kilts.

The informative presentor explained the tartan colors.  Each clan had their own plaid/colors.  Then she proceeded to take the audience thru a day in the life of the male Scotsman who wore the same kilt all day but just changed his shirt and accessories to meet the needs of his activity from formal to everyday wear.  

Taking 6 yards of fabric, the presentor, with the assistance of a volunteer from the audience, created a kilt by laying down a belt and folding pleats into the fabric.

The volunteer laid on the fabric and belted it around him.

The long ends were tied at the shoulder and he was ready for the day.

This presentor is a kilt maker.  The modern kilts are all hand sewn to hold the pleats in place with a lining. The extra fabric over the shoulder is non existent.  The modern kilt is just a 'skirt'.  

The volunteer looked like he was ready to defend his land

but our presentor shared with us that this Scotsman wouldn't wear his tartan kilt into battle as it was his only kilt and he needed to preserve it, so history has said the shoulder would be untied, the kilt dropped to the ground and the Scotsman would have gone off to battle 'in his birthday suit'.

The next session was about taking a piece of woven cloth and sitting around a wooden table beating the cloth to close up the loose weave... the milling process.  

The Gaelic speaking Scotts would sing songs with a milling rhythm.  Some of these songs had 30 or more verses.  Oh yes, another interesting tidbit....they used urine on the fabric to seal the color.  Now that lends a different appeal to attending a milling frolic.

The Gaelic alphabet only has 16 letters.  All our vowels are present except 'y'.  It takes a pattern of 3 letters to replace the y.

One of the goals of the Gaelic College is to preserve the Gaelic language which has begun to die.  Children were punished for speaking Gaelic in schools which contributed to the language's demise.  Summer camps and courses offered at this college are geared toward preserving the music and language.

Abby, the milling presentor was also the Music and Dance guide.  She took out her fiddle and went into detail about the music that has pretty much stayed pure as this area has been rather isolated over the years without much outside influence.  She also shared the non-competitive nature of the people.  The music and gatherings are for fun and to be shared. Everyone is invited to dance.  Competition would bring someone to the top that others would try to emulate, thus stifling creativity.  Competition goes against the nature of the people in this area.

After a lunch break at a nearby restaurant with a waterfront view

the sessions resumed with the focus on weaving.

It appears it would take quite a bit of patience to set up all the threads on the loom as you can't cross the threads and expect to weave.

The final session was Gaelic Storytelling.  The history of tales as well as shared stories in Gaelic with English translation were told.    Some were tall tales and some were based on truth.

Dad decided to grease the front end of the Ram so he got out his 'travel creeper' and slid under the truck.  I was ready to join him but my lead was too short to reach him.

While he was under the truck he noticed a snap ring that had become unseated.  I'm not sure if he just enjoys taking things apart or if he wanted to see how dirty he could get the bandage on his finger.  

The next thing I knew, the drive shaft was on our picnic table.

When it came time for the test run to be sure everything was running smoothly, it was happy hour...so ....off to the ice cream shop they went.

When the evening game hour was approaching, I waited by the door watching for my treats to arrive in Aunt Carol's pocket.

I kept running over to Momma to ask where they were.  Then I would run back to look out.  "Where are they Momma?  I'm sure it's that time of the evening. Who says I can't tell time? I know they are late!   Oh, Uncle Steve is finishing up a project."

The game of Five Crown ended with Momma coming in first place and Aunt Carol coming in second place.  Uncle Steve graciously managed to receive the last place score.  How unusual for him as this is usually 'his game'.  Maybe he was just feeling guilty about whipping the gals so bad last night.  He can be so sweet.

I'm Chloe