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Romantic Scottish Myths and Traditions
Scotland is steeped in romantic myths and traditions. So to celebrate the most romantic day of the year, St Valentine’s Day on 14 February, we round up our ten favourite Scottish legends and wedding customs.
- There is an old Scottish superstition that the first person you pass on the street would become your valentine. How this might work in practice has never been documented, but it’s a nice idea if you’re on the look-out for a mate!
- In the middle ages gentlemen would pick a lady's name from a ballot and pin it to his sleeve for the rest of the day. Effectively they would be 'partners' for that day and sometime it even lead to marriage. There would certainly be no need for internet dating if this worked today. It is possibly where the saying 'wearing your heart on your sleeve' comes from, though again there is no evidence.
- 'Blackenings' are a ritual still performed with great gusto - unless you are the unlucky groom-to-be! He is captured by his friends and is stripped to the waist before bound and 'blackened' by using substances such as feathers, treacle, soot and flour! He is then paraded through the village whilst his friends make as much noise as possible to make the experience as embarrassing as possible for the unlucky groom. In some parts of Scotland, this can happen to the bride too!
- Way back on 14 February 1565, Mary Queen of Scots meets Lord Darnley for the first time. They married in July 1565.
- The custom of feet-washing still happens throughout Scotland and it is hoped that it will guarantee good fortune for the marriage. The bride sits on a stool while an older, married woman washes and dries her feet. In Fife, however, only a few, heartened bridegrooms go through the traditional procedure, which involves sitting in a tub of water while his legs are smeared with grease, ash and soot.
- What may have begun as an old Celtic prediction and is still sometimes practiced in Scotland and known as the nutshell charm. Roast a handful of chestnuts, and if they explode during the cooking, it signifies a true love will be hard to find but if they cook quietly it signifies that all will be well in love.
- The remains of Saint Valentine are said to lie in the Church of the Blessed John Duns in Glasgow. Franciscan friars were given the remains by a French family of religious relic collectors, though it is impossible to know whether these are the real remains.
- There is an ancient belief that on Valentine's Day if a robin flew over a woman's head she would marry a sailor; if it was a goldfinch she would marry a wealthy man, and if she saw a sparrow she would have a poor yet happy marriage.
- Legend goes that a Scottish queen was given a ring by her husband. She gave it to a handsome soldier and the king found out. The King discovered the soldier asleep by a river bank, took the ring, threw it in the water and challenged his wife to produce the ring. St Mungo, who was to become the patron saint of Glasgow, miraculously returned the ring by catching the right salmon and finding it in its stomach. The arms of the City of Glasgow now include a salmon with a ring in its mouth.
- A sixpence coin may be placed in the bride's shoe to help bring her good luck. Similarly, in the Scottish Borders, a sprig of heather is traditionally hidden within the Bride's bouquet.
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