By Catherine McKinley Christmas is ancient. Celtic pagans held celebrations around the time of Winter solstice (Dec. 21 or 22) acknowledging the shortest day of the year. The festivities were …
Tastes of Scotland: Parkin
By Carolyn McDonald Graf Parkin is a moist sticky ginger cake. Its origin probably goes back to pagan times when cakes were made to celebrate the beginning of winter and …
Tastes of Scotland: Heather Honey Steamed Sponge
By Carolyn McDonald Graf Honeybees seem to have their origin in Afro-Eurasia and appear in the fossil records from 34 million years ago. Bees spread naturally throughout Africa and Eurasian …
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Scottish Fall Holidays: Halloween, St. Andrew’s Day
By Catherine McKinley “Tartan Pumpkins Anyone?” is the title of an article explaining that Halloween is a Celtic origin holiday. The ancient Celt’s observed the end of Summer & start …
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Taste of Scotland: Caledonia Meatballs
By Carolyn McDonald Graf This is not the first time this recipe appeared in our newsletter, but I brought these meatballs to Grandfather Mountain Highland Games and many people asked …
Scots in the 2024 Summer Olympics
By Catherine McKinley The Paris Summer Olympic Games run Friday, July 26th to Sunday, August 11th. To celebrate the achievements of the Scottish athletes, competing on Team Great Britain, this …
Taste of Scotland: Grains for Bannocks
By Carolyn McDonald Graf The word “bannock” probably comes from the Gaelic bunnuch or bannach which means morsel and may come from the Latin word for bread panicium. A bannoch …
Scottish Signers Of the Declaration Of Independence
By Catherine McKinley As the citizens of the United States of America prepare to celebrate the 4th of July, it should be noted that the signers of the Declaration of …
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On the Trail of the Historical Macbeths
By Valerie Nieman Not much to look at, these two mounds covered with windblown grass, but they tell of the fate of nations, the death of kings. Beside Iona’s abbey …
The History of Highland Dance’s Basic Four
By Catherine McKinley Highland Dancing first came about long before recorded history. It is known, though, that this form of dance was started by Scottish Warriors as a way to …
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