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A
Year of Orcadian Tradition
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"June hardly sleeps. Hardly has she covered the fire
in the North-West than it's time to kindle the fire in the
north-east.
She spreads beautiful cloths everywhere, stitched with flowers."
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| June |
June is the lightest month in the Orkney
calendar. As the sun climbs to its zenith, at the summer
solstice, it barely dips below the western horizon. At this
time of the year, it is quite possible to read outside at
midnight - I can personally vouch for this, having done
it a few times myself.
The midsummer festivities are the most prominent in this
month. |
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Up until the middle of the 19th century,
Midsummer, or Johnsmas, bonfires were lit on hills across
the islands. For more information on the island's bonfire
traditions, click here. |
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The young people from Stromness
and Sandwick
used to climb to the summit of the hill, Kringlafiold, for
three mornings, at midsummer, to meet the rising sun with
outstretched arms.
One account of this ritual has the young folk kissing the
palms of their hands before uplifting them to the newly
risen sun.
I wonder whether this tradition may has any connection to
the fact that the name Kringlafiold meaning "round
hill" could refer to a natural spring found on the
hill.
Given the multitude of Celtic traditions surrounding similar
sacred springs and wells, was the face washing ritual connected
to the hallowed waters of the spring? |
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According to some, the selkies,
who were condemned to wander through the seas until the
Day of Judgement, were permitted to shed their sealskins
and assume human form on Johnsmas Eve. |
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| Section
Contents |
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