Cailleach's Herbarium
  • Folk Practices
    • Ancestors Animism folk charms Folk Festivals Folk Magic necromancy
      Ancestors

      When the Spirit Moves You – Moving House…

      Ancestors

      Radicalising the Ancestral Scottish Diet

      Ancestors

      Scottish Folk magic and the dead (part three)…

      Ancestors

      Scottish Folk Magic and the dead (part two)…

      Ancestors

      Scottish Folk Magic and the Dead (part one)…

      Ancestors

      Scottish folk magic and the dead (an introduction)

      Animism

      The Ugly One With all the Jewels –…

      Animism

      Saining not Smudging- Purification and Lustration in Scottish…

      Animism

      When the Spirit Moves You – Moving House…

      Animism

      Scottish Folk magic and the dead (part three)…

      Animism

      Scottish Folk Magic and the dead (part two)…

      Animism

      Scottish folk magic and the dead (an introduction)

      folk charms

      The Frith – Divination from Augury

      folk charms

      Snaim – The three knot charm

      folk charms

      Chapbook on Scottish folk magic and herbalism (for…

      folk charms

      Scottish Gaelic Divination Prayer \ Charm – The…

      Folk Festivals

      The colours of the seasons – red, black…

      Folk Festivals

      Martinmas – Sacrifice, Initiation, and Blood

      Folk Festivals

      Samhuinn – Halloween, Winters Start, Guising, Divination and…

      Folk Festivals

      Races, Carrots, dancing and the devils portion –…

      Folk Festivals

      Lùnastal – The First Sorrow – (Part 1)

      Folk Festivals

      An Fheill Sheathan, Midsummer, Johnsmass, summer solstice

      Folk Magic

      Divination by shoulder blade – scapulimancy–Slinneanachd/Slinnairachd

      Folk Magic

      Self-making – Disability in Scottish Folk Magic –…

      Folk Magic

      A Memory of Water – Folk Magic is…

      Folk Magic

      Interview – Isobel Gowdie Concept Album – with…

      Folk Magic

      When the Spirit Moves You – Moving House…

      Folk Magic

      Spoken Word Folk Magic Audio Project Launch ……

      necromancy

      Divination by shoulder blade – scapulimancy–Slinneanachd/Slinnairachd

      necromancy

      Scottish Folk magic and the dead (part three)…

      necromancy

      Scottish Folk Magic and the dead (part two)…

      necromancy

      Scottish Folk Magic and the Dead (part one)…

      necromancy

      Scottish folk magic and the dead (an introduction)

  • Folk Crafts
    • Folk Crafts

      Tallow Rendering – for Cooking, Salves and Enfleurage

      Folk Crafts

      Straw craft , Wheat Weaving, Corn Dollies and…

      Folk Crafts

      Spin the wheel and seal your fate –…

  • Folk “Deities”
    • Folk Deities

      The Cailleach – Scotland’s Midwife – Tigh Na…

      Folk Deities

      Who the hell is Sidhe? – Fairy Faith…

      Folk Deities

      From Dead to Deity – How did the…

      Folk Deities

      Nicneven – A Wild Witch Chase – In…

      Folk Deities

      The Cailleach – A Tale of Balance Between…

      Folk Deities

      The Cailleach – A Tale of Balance Between…

      Folk Deities

      Airmed – herbal working ancestor – an inspiration

  • Folk Festivals
    • Folk Festivals

      The colours of the seasons – red, black…

      Folk Festivals

      Martinmas – Sacrifice, Initiation, and Blood

      Folk Festivals

      Samhuinn – Halloween, Winters Start, Guising, Divination and…

      Folk Festivals

      Races, Carrots, dancing and the devils portion –…

      Folk Festivals

      Lùnastal – The First Sorrow – (Part 1)

      Folk Festivals

      An Fheill Sheathan, Midsummer, Johnsmass, summer solstice

      Folk Festivals

      Samhradh Samhradh – Là Bealltainn – May Day

  • Herbal Recipies
    • House Cleaning Tonics
      House Cleaning

      Spring Cleaning – Herbal House Cleaning Recipes

      Tonics

      Midwinter Glow – Herbs for Resistance

      Tonics

      Spring Cleaning – Herbal Teas and Folk Practitioners…

  • Interviews
    • interview

      Interview Guising traditions : A deeper dive into…

      interview

      Interview – Isobel Gowdie Concept Album – with…

  • Shop
    • Tales of the Taibhsear Spoken word Album
    • Tales of the Taibhsear – Chapbook
    • Check out
  • About
    • Scottish Folk magic fundamentals – or why i write what i write – or my BIAS FAQ …
    • Contact Us
Cailleach's Herbarium
  • Folk Practices
    • Ancestors Animism folk charms Folk Festivals Folk Magic necromancy
      Ancestors

      When the Spirit Moves You – Moving House…

      Ancestors

      Radicalising the Ancestral Scottish Diet

      Ancestors

      Scottish Folk magic and the dead (part three)…

      Ancestors

      Scottish Folk Magic and the dead (part two)…

      Ancestors

      Scottish Folk Magic and the Dead (part one)…

      Ancestors

      Scottish folk magic and the dead (an introduction)

      Animism

      The Ugly One With all the Jewels –…

      Animism

      Saining not Smudging- Purification and Lustration in Scottish…

      Animism

      When the Spirit Moves You – Moving House…

      Animism

      Scottish Folk magic and the dead (part three)…

      Animism

      Scottish Folk Magic and the dead (part two)…

      Animism

      Scottish folk magic and the dead (an introduction)

      folk charms

      The Frith – Divination from Augury

      folk charms

      Snaim – The three knot charm

      folk charms

      Chapbook on Scottish folk magic and herbalism (for…

      folk charms

      Scottish Gaelic Divination Prayer \ Charm – The…

      Folk Festivals

      The colours of the seasons – red, black…

      Folk Festivals

      Martinmas – Sacrifice, Initiation, and Blood

      Folk Festivals

      Samhuinn – Halloween, Winters Start, Guising, Divination and…

      Folk Festivals

      Races, Carrots, dancing and the devils portion –…

      Folk Festivals

      Lùnastal – The First Sorrow – (Part 1)

      Folk Festivals

      An Fheill Sheathan, Midsummer, Johnsmass, summer solstice

      Folk Magic

      Divination by shoulder blade – scapulimancy–Slinneanachd/Slinnairachd

      Folk Magic

      Self-making – Disability in Scottish Folk Magic –…

      Folk Magic

      A Memory of Water – Folk Magic is…

      Folk Magic

      Interview – Isobel Gowdie Concept Album – with…

      Folk Magic

      When the Spirit Moves You – Moving House…

      Folk Magic

      Spoken Word Folk Magic Audio Project Launch ……

      necromancy

      Divination by shoulder blade – scapulimancy–Slinneanachd/Slinnairachd

      necromancy

      Scottish Folk magic and the dead (part three)…

      necromancy

      Scottish Folk Magic and the dead (part two)…

      necromancy

      Scottish Folk Magic and the Dead (part one)…

      necromancy

      Scottish folk magic and the dead (an introduction)

  • Folk Crafts
    • Folk Crafts

      Tallow Rendering – for Cooking, Salves and Enfleurage

      Folk Crafts

      Straw craft , Wheat Weaving, Corn Dollies and…

      Folk Crafts

      Spin the wheel and seal your fate –…

  • Folk “Deities”
    • Folk Deities

      The Cailleach – Scotland’s Midwife – Tigh Na…

      Folk Deities

      Who the hell is Sidhe? – Fairy Faith…

      Folk Deities

      From Dead to Deity – How did the…

      Folk Deities

      Nicneven – A Wild Witch Chase – In…

      Folk Deities

      The Cailleach – A Tale of Balance Between…

      Folk Deities

      The Cailleach – A Tale of Balance Between…

      Folk Deities

      Airmed – herbal working ancestor – an inspiration

  • Folk Festivals
    • Folk Festivals

      The colours of the seasons – red, black…

      Folk Festivals

      Martinmas – Sacrifice, Initiation, and Blood

      Folk Festivals

      Samhuinn – Halloween, Winters Start, Guising, Divination and…

      Folk Festivals

      Races, Carrots, dancing and the devils portion –…

      Folk Festivals

      Lùnastal – The First Sorrow – (Part 1)

      Folk Festivals

      An Fheill Sheathan, Midsummer, Johnsmass, summer solstice

      Folk Festivals

      Samhradh Samhradh – Là Bealltainn – May Day

  • Herbal Recipies
    • House Cleaning Tonics
      House Cleaning

      Spring Cleaning – Herbal House Cleaning Recipes

      Tonics

      Midwinter Glow – Herbs for Resistance

      Tonics

      Spring Cleaning – Herbal Teas and Folk Practitioners…

  • Interviews
    • interview

      Interview Guising traditions : A deeper dive into…

      interview

      Interview – Isobel Gowdie Concept Album – with…

  • Shop
    • Tales of the Taibhsear Spoken word Album
    • Tales of the Taibhsear – Chapbook
    • Check out
  • About
    • Scottish Folk magic fundamentals – or why i write what i write – or my BIAS FAQ …
    • Contact Us
0
Cailleach's Herbarium
Exploring Lost Scottish Folk Customs, Practices, Traditions and Lore

Folk Festivals

In Scotland folk festivals are not the thing of the past. We still celebrate the two major festivals of Bealtainn and Samhuinn with street performances in Edinburgh. But all over Scotland festivals of the folk calendar can still be found such as Up Helly YA in Shetland and the Burryman in South Queensferry and the Riding the Marches and so many many more examples. However, neopagan and nu-age thinking has corrupted some of the amazing poetry that these events have and its great to be able to have a space to reflect on their original meaning outside of any particular religious perceptions and look at the meaning these festivals held for the folk of Scotland.

  • AnimismFolk FestivalsFolk MagicFolk Practices

    The colours of the seasons – red, black and white

    by Scott 9th August 2018
    9th August 2018

    The ever-changing colours of the seasons and hue of the year is something that’s always fascinated me. When I lived in…

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  • AncestorsAnimismFolk FestivalsMartinmassamhain

    Martinmas – Sacrifice, Initiation, and Blood

    by Scott 12th August 2018
    12th August 2018

    What is Martinmas? Change is inevitable. A time of change to the Scottish, is a chance for speculation and divination, worry,…

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    0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
  • Folk Festivalssamhain

    Samhuinn – Halloween, Winters Start, Guising, Divination and Fires

    by Scott 12th August 2018
    12th August 2018

    On the 31st of October the night of Halloween arrives. This time is also known in Gaelic as Samhuinn, or Oidhche…

    Read more
    3 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
  • autumn equinoxFolk Festivals

    Races, Carrots, dancing and the devils portion – La Fhéile Mícheal – Michaelmas – Autumn Equinox

    by Scott 13th August 2018
    13th August 2018

    The sun rises due east and sets due west on the equinox date, crossing almost at a right angle the Milky…

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    1 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
  • Folk FestivalsLùnastal

    Lùnastal – The First Sorrow – (Part 1)

    by Scott 13th August 2018
    13th August 2018

    Lunastal. This time of year has always been special to me, which we try to align to the new moon or…

    Read more
    0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
  • An Fheill SheathanFolk Festivalssolstice

    An Fheill Sheathan, Midsummer, Johnsmass, summer solstice

    by Scott 21st August 2018
    21st August 2018

    Midsummer, the summer solstice, St Johns mass (the birth of St. John the Baptist), An Fheill Sheathan – all these names…

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    0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
  • BealltainnFolk Festivals

    Samhradh Samhradh – Là Bealltainn – May Day

    by Scott 24th August 2018
    24th August 2018

    Its the first of May, Happy Bealltainn! One of the best days of the year in my humble opinion…its coming indicates its time to go out searching for wildcrafted herbs and fresh young shoots of plants. So what are your plans for today? Why not start it off by listening to this amazing traditional song by The Gloaming calling in the Summer (Samhradh means summer in Irish gaelic). I have provided a the lyrics and a translation after the video.

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  • BealltainnFolk Festivals

    Lá Bealltainn – The Gaelic End of Winter Festival

    by Scott 21st August 2018
    21st August 2018

    Là Bealltainn, the summer hinge the swinging open of the door to Samhradh, summer. The liminal time, the otherworld now just…

    Read more
    0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
  • Folk Festivalsspring equinox

    La na Cailleach – Spring Equinox – Fools, Cuckoos, the Lady and the Devil

    by Scott 21st August 2018
    21st August 2018

    When the light of the sun of this day shines into the inner chamber of Sliabh na Calli (The Cailleach’s mound).…

    Read more
    0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
  • Féill BrídFolk Festivals

    La Féill Bríd – Imbolc – Snakes, Fire and Lustration in midwinter.

    by Scott 24th August 2018
    24th August 2018

    Summer is coming, everyone is rushing around, readying for spring activity. Brid is coming. Must be busy. I find it exhausting…

    Read more
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