Scottish Words and Customs from Ian

Fellow MacLeods:

I recently came across a couple of rarely used words out of Scotland (you need a really big dictionary to find these words!):

1. Assoil (also assoiler, assoiling, assoilment) (from Scottish assolyhe) - it has several meanings, all in the theme of, and including: 1. to absolve from sin, 2. to reverse an excommunication, 3. to set free from obligations, 4. to acquit of a criminal charge, 5. to set free, 6 to atone.

I came across this one in an old Scottish legal decision.

2. Gardyloo (from the French "gare de l'eau" meaning "beware of the water") - "A warning cry uttered (in old Edinburgh) before throwing dirty water from the window into the street."

I came across this one in a legal publication. They said "Gardyloo - a well-known Scottish expression whose usage is now thankfully unnecessary. The cry 'Gardyloo' preceded the dumping of slops into the street from high tenement windows."

I'm sure that you can find a way to use these words, and show off your expanded vocabulary, somewhere in everyday conversation.

Hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas and hogmanay (which, for some of our kinsfolk, may have just wrapped up!).

As to Hogmanay, here is what wikipedia says about the Scottish custom:

"There are many customs, both national and local, associated with Hogmanay. The most widespread national custom is the practice of "first footing" which starts immediately after midnight. This involves being the first person to cross the threshold of a friend or neighbour and often involves the giving of symbolic gifts such as salt (less common today), coal, shortbread, whisky and black bun (a rich fruit cake) intended to bring different kinds of luck to the householder. Food and drink (as the gifts) are then given to the guests. This may go on throughout the early hours of the morning and well into the next day (although modern days see people visiting houses well into the middle of January). The first-foot is supposed to set the luck for the rest of the year. Traditionally, tall dark men are preferred as the first-foot."

Best wishes for 2011, not to mention today's Robbie Burns' celebrations (for the first time, I'm doing the Toast to the Haggis in a couple of hours, at my Mom's retirement home - wish me luck).

Ian C.

Stephanie and Heather MacLeod's Trip to Peru

Well the trip is done and for many reasons it truely was the experience of a lifetime. I am so grateful to each of you for making this possible and I can't believe that it's over already! But the memories that I have and the new friendship that I made will last a lifetime. Words can not express what your support has meant to me and I will forever be thankful to each of you.

Below is the link to the video that I created when I started fundraising to share what MS means in my life:

This is MS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBoGVRmKC1E

And the slide show that I put together to chronicle the hike. (Life is always better with a soundtrack )

The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5taB0xHMKE

I have to say it's been an incredible journey from then until now and I wouldn't change a minute of it!!

To my fellow climbers, this trip wouldn't have been what it was without each of you.

To Angel, Mandy, Amadeo and Antonio, I left a piece of my heart in Peru, I hope to see you again my friends!

For more pictures from the trip, please visit the webpage the Heather created.

MSClimb-MacLeods

http://www.msclimb-macleods.ca/

Annual General Meeting November 7 2010

Date: November 7 2010 at 12 PM - Place: Sylvia Hotel Vancouver BC

Mark welcomed everyone to the Annual General Meeting and held a moment of silence in memory of Bob Tanner.

The following officers were elected for 2011:

President: Mark MacLeod

VP: Jack MacLeod

Treasurer: Stephanie MacLeod

Secretary: Edie Kernighan

Directors: Ian MacLeod, Bill McLeod, Judy Tipple, Norman MacLeod, Ollie MacLeod, Jean McLeod, Allan MacLeod

Tartan Day Officially Adopted by Parliament

This message comes from Dan Taylor:

"If you have not heard already Tartan Day was officially adopted by Parliament.

The declaration of Tartan Day at the federal level is the product of many years of

lobbying and encouraging Members of Parliament and their staff by the many Scottish

associations across the country.
I want to thank all the Scottish groups across Canada who have written
numerous letters to their MP's and Senators asking for Tartan Day to be
officially declared deserve our thanks. Particular thanks must be extended
to Hon. Keith Ashfield, Member of Parliament for Fredericton and Minister of
Atlantic Gateway, Hon. John Wallace, Senator for New Brunswick, and Hon.
James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage, for all of their cooperation and
assistance in making this dream of having Tartan Day adopted by Parliament a
reality.

I hope the all Canadians of Scottish descent will rejoice with the United
Council of Scots in Atlantic Canada and her affiliated organizations in
applauding the Government of Canada for addressing this important issue. "

Minister Moore Officially Declares April 6 as Tartan Day

OTTAWA, October 21, 2010 - The Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, announced today that the Government of Canada will now officially recognize April 6 as Tartan Day.

"A tartan represents a clan, a family, and a community, and is an enduring symbol of Scotland that is cherished by Canadians of Scottish ancestry," said Minister Moore. "Many Canadian provinces and other countries already celebrate Tartan Day. As well, through Tartan Day, Canadians will have an opportunity to learn more about the various cultures that comprise Canadian society."

Tartan Day originated in the late 1980s in Nova Scotia, where it was declared an official day by the provincial government. It then spread across the country, with many provinces joining in. This marks the first time the Day has been recognized by the federal government.

"By officially recognizing this Day, we encourage Canadians all across the country to celebrate the contributions that over four million Canadians of Scottish heritage continue to make to the foundation of our country," said Senator John Wallace, who recently introduced a bill in the Senate in support of nationally declaring Tartan Day.

In Canada, Tartan Day is celebrated on April 6, the anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath, the Scottish declaration of independence. Tartan Day celebrations typically include parades of pipe bands, Highland dancing and sports, and other Scottish-themed events.

Clan Parliament 2010

"Old and New Traditions" Registration in now open! The web materials to support the announcement in the October issue of Clan MacLeod Magazine become available on 01 November 2009. We may still have a few a bugs to get out of the system, but we are ready to move forward! The dates for Parliament 2010 will be: NRG service project in Assynt: Saturday 17 July - Saturday 24 July Pre-Parliament trip to Assynt: Wednesday 21 July - Saturday 24 July Parliament in Dunvegan: Saturday 24 July - Saturday 31 July Our first Parliament Newsletter has been posted to this website as October 2008 News. The October 2009 newsletter should be distributed during the first week of November. Please remember that you are welcome any time to volunteer for Parliament or to add your name to the mailing list for email newsletters about Parliament .

AGM November 8 2009

On Sunday November 8th, over 30 Clan Members met at the beautiful Sylvia Hotel to participate in the Annual General Meeting and enjoy brunch. We had a semi private room with a beautiful view of English Bay. The highlights of the meeting included the election of officers and directors for 2010, an update from Bill on the Robbie Burns Luncheon plans and an account of Jack's trip to Katmandu.

Thanks to all those that attended. We plan to hold our AGM there next year so spread the word!

Jacobite History - Ron MacLeod

Greetings, courtesy Robert Henderson, Calgary, a curious kick at ancient history as

reported in the National Post.

My own family on both my father's and my mother's side were among the stigmatized.

Personally, I am of a mind to think that the fresh, clean Canadian air blew

all that unwanted heritage away into the darkest channels of history where it is best

left to moulder.

Regards, the other Ron

Westminster asked to lift Jacobite stigma

Scots Canadians whose ancestors supported Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Jacobite rebellion may not know it, but their family names have officially been mud for more than 250 years.

After the failed insurrection to restore the House of Stuart to the British throne, Acts of Parliament deemed the blood of many rebels “corrupt,” confiscated their property and exiled them to North America as indentured servants.

Now, the Scottish Parliament is taking steps to remove any stigma associated with support for the Stuart cause.

Canadians with the last name Cameron, Chisholm, Drummond, Fraser, Gordon, Graham, Laird, MacDonald, Mackenzie, Mackinnon, MacKinnon, Mackintosh, MacKintosh, MacLeod, Malcolm, Nairn, Ogilvie, Ross, Stewart Stirling or Sutherland may well be the descendants of Jacobites who were exiled after the rebellions. Many Jacobites were “attainted” by Act of Parliament that denied them their property and disinherited their descendants.

Those affected included national hero Rob Roy McGregor and Flora MacDonald, Bonnie Prince Charlie’s rescuer after the Battle of Culloden in 1746, who settled in North Carolina.

Scottish Conservative Jamie McGrigor has tabled a motion, with cross-party support, calling on the Scottish Parliament to back a petition that demands the Westminster Parliament overturn the Acts of Attainder and clear the names of Jacobite families.

Not only could the stigma associated with “corruption of the blood” be overturned, but some Canadians may also find they have legitimate claim on ancient titles that would be restored if the campaign is successful.

Peter Drummond-Murray, a retired banker and heraldry expert who started the petition, said that a number of peerage titles could be affected including the Earl of Kilmarnock and the Duke of Berwick.

“Lots of ordinary people were transported to North America who still have this slur on them. We’re petitioning for it to be removed,” he said.

He did not rule out that there could be Canadians with claim to old titles, but said that there is no question of successful land claims being launched after nearly 300 years.

The list of those “attainted” included all ranks from peers and lairds to clerks and commoners. As the Jacobite threat subsided in the 19th century, a number of peers were able to afford the procedure of a private bill in Parliament to reverse the attainder process.

However, many families that supported the Stuarts are still stigmatized by what one member of the Scottish Parliament called “historical discrimination.”

After 1688, when James VII of Scotland and II of England was replaced by his daughter Mary II and her husband, William of Orange, many who refused to swear allegiance to William and Mary were tried for treason and “attainted.” Some were executed, some sent into exile and were punished by Acts of Attainder — losing their rights and property. This process continued after the Jacobite rebellions of 1715, 1719 and 1745.