Shetland Folk-Lore
that selfishness which is an outgrowth of our so-called modern civilisation whose policy is: “Man mind dysel, an deil tak’ the hinmost.” The upstaander and the yarmer had not then learned to quarrel over a “mug o' lū watter.”
In the festivities of the olden time there seems to have been special respect paid to the number three. For example, during the season the crew of a haf boat had three feasts, viz.: the Doon-drawin' at Beltane; the Johnsmas at Midsummer, when they supped the “milgruel kits”; and the Foy at Lammas, when the fishing closed.
When births, marriages, and deaths occurred, there were three feasts in connection with each. On the occasion of a birth there was the Blithe-feast, when the child was born; the Fittin'-feast, when the mother came to the fire and resumed her duties; and the Christenin', when the child
was baptised. In connection with a marriage there were the Spörin', the Contract,
188
