46 More Folklore from the Hebrides.
" There will be a ' Caisean ' ' Of the Calands in my pocket. Good is the smoke that will come from it. I will give to the man of the house in his fist, And he will thrust its nose into the fire. He will put it ' sunwards ' over the children, And especially over the woman-of-the-house. The woman-of-the-house well deserves that — The hand that provides the Caland-cakes."
It used to be the custom for one of the merrymakers to
have a dried hide on his back, and for the rest to smite the
hide with their shinties, saying :
" Since there is a drought in the country We will hope for a dram. A little thing of the gift of summer [butter], I expect along with the bread. If you have got it at all [lit. ' of the world '], If you may give, do not keep delay upon us ; I am in the open door, so let me in."
If they considered themselves well treated, they would pronounce the following blessing upon leaving the house :
" If it be well to-night, May it be sevenfold better a year from to-night ; May God bless the house and all in it, Between man and wife and children, Much food and plenty of clothing. And the wealth of men be in it."
The following is recited on Hogmany night :
" Three men to-night As on Easter night.
[The next line is unintelligible, probably half forgotten] To-night is the night of the hard hangman. The hard cruel tree to which Christ was hung ; Christ, the Clerk above us. [Another obscure line follows.] High is the cake, and high the poor. And high is He of to-night's night. Brigid went upon her knee. The King of the elements sat on her breast."
The New Year's Candle {Caisean Cullaig) was made of a sheep's tail, wrapped in a rag, and steeped in grease.
