"What do they really wear under the Kilt?"

The other day I got asked this question - "What do you wear under your Kilt?".

The person asking is a missionary from Texas and he has been teaching a person with a strong Scottish background.

So I happened to have a copy of a Scottish products catalog and showed him a version of the famous shirt that has the top ten responses.

You may view the t-shirt on the Celtic Croft website in detail here.

Here is what they have on the t-shirt and part of the list.  For those that want something a little cleaner you'd have to dump about half the list.

1.   My shoes and socks
2.   Nothing worn - Everything is in perfect working order
3.   My furry pouch - oh wait that is on top.
4.   A very fine set of accessories
5.   My used beer dispenser
6.   Good girls don't ask, bad girls find out
7.   My Claymore - and it's in need of a good polishing.....
8.   Lipstick when I'm lucky....
9.   If your brave enough to ask, you're brave enough to find out
10. I'll show you mind if you show me yours

Another interesting version can be viewed here from USA Kilts

There are also some great responses in the must read book for those that will be using a kilt.  It's called "So you're going to wear the Kilt!"  by  J. Charles Thompson.  They are much cleaner but basically, rest on the 'plumbing is working do you need a demonstration?'





So as you can see there are a few catchy things you can say to someone that is questioning you about what you are wearing under your kilt.

The Kilt in and of itself is very interesting.  It's almost always historically made of a tartan material of wool.

The interesting part is that within the Celtic culture tartan style material/cloth has been in use for millennia.  However, the kilt seems to be a bit of a more modern invention even though it is one of the great symbols of Scotland along with the Bagpipe.
The origins of the kilt are somewhat cloud in the mysteries of time and space.  The Britain Celts who were closely associated with the Romans for several hundred years appear to not have used any style of kilt at that time.  The Celts on the European Continent also have no historical use of the Kilt.  It was more trousers.  The Irish also seem to not have used one though it is generally accepted that the fore runner of the modern kilt is or was the Breacan an Fhéilidh (belted plaid) or Feileadh Mòr (great plaid).



Basically the original kilts were large pieces of cloth that were pleated by hand (kilting) and then belted around the middle.  This left a huge amount of material that could be thrown over the shoulder and wrapped around the user.  These could and would be a little short on the bottom side.  Not nearly getting to the knee in many cases and this lends credence to that Mr. Thompson says are the Victorian ear kilts that go to the knee or beyond.

I find it is best if the kilt goes to around the knee.  For modesty and religious reasons even my shorts need to be that long.  It's kind of slutty for a woman to use a micro mini with no leggings and a super short kilt is just unbecoming to a man no matter his age.

Kilts as we know them today started to appear at least in the 16th century.  They were present for all the Jacobite rebellions. Though the chieftains likely used Thews (plaid pants) so they could ride horses easier.  The general soldier or clansman wore the kilt and even removed it in many cases to fight and tied his shirt between his legs.



Over time the kilt began to shed the additional material that was above the waist.  This may have been for comfort or other similar reasons as more and more Scots moved around the world.

Today the kilt is made of about 3 yards of tartan material.  It is pleated to the sett by the maker and includes buckles and straps to help secure it.  It is also used for more formal events and less for everyday use.  Though in reality a person may use the same kilt at the local Highland Games and then a week or so later at his friends wedding.  It is the upper accessories that change.  The style of shirt, the coat or lack there of, the plaid, the cap, the style or quality of the sporran and the Sgian dubh.



So for those that are brave enough these days to wear a kilt. What do they use or wear under there?

It all come down to personal preference.  I've seen many a caber tosser, or heavy athlete that uses so type of tight fitting short.  Not them mighty whitey underwear so many use daily.  More like athletic shorts.  They whirl, and turn and twist so much you'd see more then you want at some point.  Also the few guys that do highland dancing any more also use some type of shorts under there.  They also whirl, twist, and turn and jump so much you need to.  We've seen more then our fair share of dancer's under garments without out even trying.

So I think things like these t-shirts with a list of interesting things to say when someone wants to know what is under your kilt are just for fun, and to help keep the mystery going.  At times I think these quick, cheesy, and sometimes lewd, responses are just what people need.  We don't go around asking a lady what she has on under her skirt.  It would be interesting if they stated to describe in detail their panties to the poor sick bum that was crazy enough to ask.




One shirt states - "If there is underwear under there it's called a skirt!"

I'll let you decide what I might be wearing under my kilt the next time I'm at the local Scottish Fair.

Buaidh - NO - Bas

Pioneer Day

July 24th is celebrated as Pioneer Day in Utah.  Maybe even locations in Idaho, and Arizona.  The reason this day is celebrated is this marks when the first group of Mormon Pioneers reached the Valley of the Great Salt Lake. That is why I'm not sure if the largely Mormon communities in locations like Arizona or Idaho also celebrate this event.

As many may know the Saints were pushed out of Nauvoo Illinois and eventually over several months made their way across the plains through Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming and finally ended at the Salt Lake Valley.  Brigham Young as he saw the valley on the rise just before descending into the valley "This is the Right Place, carry on".  He'd seen it in vision and knew this was the place that the Saints would be able to prosper and thrive.

Strangely the route they was used matched much of what could be the Oregon trail and/or the California trail. 
It appears that the Oregon trail was used slightly earlier then when the Mormons first crossed in 1847.  One way or the other this trek that they took was thousands of miles and not all that easy.  Whether is was undertaken by wagon train or hand carts it was long, exhausting and perilous.  There were presumed threats of Indians attacking, disease and sickness that could be had, issues with wild animals, and then the age old lack of food and water since the journey was taking so long.  All this made sure that those that arrived at the final destination were hardy folks.  The faint in heart, the sickly and invalid did not usually make it the whole way on the journey.

There is very good movie that was made recently that highlights the hardships of taking this crossing and exemplifies why we celebrate Pioneer Day.  17 Miracles is an amazing film about the hand cart companies that came across to Salt Lake in part as a solution to the lack of funds available to members of said companies.

Though it includes some information from multiple hand cart companies and is not necessarily in chronological order it is one of the best films I have seen that show the overall sacrifice that was necessary to make the trek west.
Yes the movie can be said to have a bit of a LDS slant since it does cover the Mormon Pioneers nevertheless, you can get a sense of what life was like back then.  We may not complain of sitting in a car for hours to get to our destination.  How about 3-4 days to cover the same distance with no good source of water or food the whole distance.

 This whole topic of the Pioneers basically covering  the 1840's through to the 1880's is very fascinating.  The beginnings of new technologies.  The vast logistics involved.  The crossing of a vast unknown continent etc.





One of the best book over all that explains in a more or less easy fashion not boring with to many details but, not lacking on content is the following book.  It covers all the essential elements of the Pioneer experience and has it broken down into sections like - Making camp, on the trail etc.  Very much worth the money. It works well for adults and children.


  Want to see some programming on the commemoration of Pioneer day?  I've included some links below to great content including the Annual presentation by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  Can not get much better then that.

We all Share Pioneer Legacy - Elder Uchtdorf

http://www.lds.org/pages/modern-day-pioneers?lang=eng


2012 Pioneer Day Concert - Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Friends

http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/watch/pioneer-day-concert/2012/07?lang=eng&vid=1747398845001

 

Celebrate the Pioneers in your past or those that are current pioneers.  There may be more out there then you think.

Buaidh - NO - Bas

Follow Up on the Highland Games

The events on Saturday wee wonderful.   I ended up sun burned even though the day started out a bit over cast.  We have June gloom in southern California and it was in full swing that morning.

The venue that is utilized is very good for this type of event.  Things can be spread out and not conflict one with another though things are not so far off that you have to climb a hill and go around a bend.
Sadly, this does not help the sheep dog demos.  This were in a small pen near the children's area and seating was no existent and shade just as much so.   Also because of such a small space provided that can do no more then a bit of demos, and not some real competition that has the dogs darting out of the bushes with the lost sheep running as fast as they can to get away.  Still good, but what can you do with a small area.

They call the long walk that has the clan tents up and down it the "Clan Mile".  That would not be much of an exaggeration.  They provide a ton of space and it goes on for quite some distance.  All the clans were well represented and we had our moment of the clan roll call.  One clan appeared to be having their AGM (Annual General Meeting) and sadly did not have much humph when called.  Probably many were off at the tons of other activities.




Pixar and Disney were very much in marketing mode.  They had loads of Banners for the upcoming Brave Movie in the main arena, and several locations around the fair grounds.   They even were cross promoting with the archery going on.  I'm hoping we can win the tickets to the advanced screening of Brave.
They even had a booth with a boat load of posters and other handouts......  what girl with a bit of Scottish/Irish blood in her does not want to have red hair and be a pro at archery?

My daughter tried her hand at archery for the first time.  The quality of the bow makes all the difference.  The first time we got a poor quality bow that was not really the right size.  It was much easier in the afternoon with a slightly bigger bow.  She even hit the targets.

I now know why King Edward "Long shanks" of England incorporated Welsh long bowman into his army. 


My wife commented that if she had to live by hunting she would likely starve.   It's not as easy as it seems.  But the food offering were quite good.  Tons of fish and chips, meat pies and banger and onions.

One of the many highlights of the day was the Farmer's Walk held just before the closing ceremonies and massing of the bands in the main arena.   Basically the guys carry 150 lbs in each hand and try to go as far as they can.  There is a distance of 100 feet marked out and they turn around at the end and come back.   A world record 500 feet was achieved Brian Crilly setting world record in Farmers Walk

The previous world record holder. Tried his hand at the event and did a very noteworthy 400 feet.  The master class and guys under 300 lbs care a lesser 225 lbs worth of weights.  Not any less of a feat.

Real Men wear kilts.  Don't let any one tell you otherwise.


So all and all it was a wonderful time at Scots Fest 2012.  The 21 cabers tossed at once was a bit strange but, why would it not be?

So make an effort to attend your local Scottish Festival and Highland Games.  It will be well worth your time - even if you do decide to not try the haggis.

Buaidh - NO - Bas

Scottish Festival and Highland Games

This weekend is the annual Scottish Festival and Highland Games at the local Orange County Fair grounds.

This event is in it's 80th year or so and has been renamed SCOTS FEST - A Scottish Festival of Celtic Entertainment and Food to more properly reflect what it truly has become.
It's two days of true Scottish culture with all the fine points one would expect.  Highland dancing, Pipe band competition, athletics (Caber toss, hammer throw, weight for height etc), Clan Societies, and plenty of food, drinks and entertainment (Bad Haggis, Sligo Rags, Highland Way and Tempest) of all sorts.








This event has become a family tradition with us.  We head there every memorial day weekend to get our slice of highland culture.

It's a great opportunity to see all our old friends from our Clan Society (http://macdougall.org).  This is one of the best places to find your Scottish roots.  Most if not all of the clan tents have some type of listing of the Septs (family names) associated to the clan.  Many also have some fairly comprehensive books on Scottish surnames that can also be helpful in locating at least some connection.  There are so many people with a vast array of knowledge that your bound to find something out if you try hard enough.  Granted that every clan had their fair share of Smiths since they all had black smiths and the like in the local village.






Though my wife and daughter do not get to excited about the athletics I do like to try and see a few guys try and toss the caber.  Unfortunately, we generally have to split up to pull this off.  Way too many things going on.

Caber Toss

Caber, in Gaelic, means simply pole or rafter. Unlike the standardized instruments common to modern track and field events, it has no fixed weight or dimensions. Contestants on a particular day all have to try with the log at hand. In the event no one is able to turn it (end over end) successfully, it is common practice to saw a piece off until someone is able to turn it. It should be noted that the goal of the effort is not distance, but to toss the log end-over-end so that it lands in a straight line from the tosser. Points are deducted according to the number of degrees off from the ideal 12 o'clock mark. The greater handicap in this event isn't the weight of the caber, but its length. 

Scotsfest section on athletics 

Some times everyone has trouble getting the caber to turn.  Other times a couple of guys are able to turn the caber.  It is always fun and can be potentially risky depending where you position yourself to watch.  Some guys due to the size of the caber have a real hard time getting it to balance properly so that can begin their attempted at turning it.  This has involved stepping backwards and the like. Thus the risk if the person has to drop the caber; not fun to be hit by a telephone pole.

Other events that are fun to watch is the Highland Dancing.  It is just amazing what those girls can do.

And the pile of Celtic apparel and clothing you see people wearing and that is available to buy.

Back in the day just before I got married I went and purchased a kilt package from a vendor at the fair.  Unfortunately, I had problems with the vendor fulfilling my order and had to take them to small claims court.  They thankfully do not exist anymore and are not at the fair any longer.  It sure was a deal but, it was a pain when I had to go and acquire varies pieces to have a complete outfit for my wedding reception.

I do get a kick out of the many t-shirts that are available to specify and answer the ultimate question - WHAT DO YOU WEAR UNDER THAT KILT?

In a book I have entitled - So you are going to wear the kilt: Revised 3rd edition by J. Charles Thompson  there is a section that discusses how to handle those questions.  You won't get much of that at Scotsfest.  Since many a person at the fair is wearing a kilt no one asks.  In reality it is when your the only wearing the kilt that you have a higher chance of getting asked.

So how do you respond?  Since it referencing such a private affair and parts that people don't like to talk about it can become hard. He says to use something along the lines of "The plumbing is all in working order, do you need a demonstration?", or "My shoes".   Basically something simple to put them off.  You have to keep up the mystic of the whole affair.  In the past people wore nothing underneath the kilt.  Now a days you find all kinds of athletic shorts and other types of undergarments.  I think I even read that they changed policy for the dragoons guards and other highland regiments in regards to the lack of clothing under the kilt.  It is now considered tacky to not use anything under your kilt.  But if you really tell someone what is down there the mystery goes away.   A shirt with some ideas for responding presents some seedy ideas.  A few of the cleaner ones are - Fine set of accessories, socks and shoes, etc.  To see all the saying and the actual shirt click here  or click here Your sure to get a laugh even if you are considered a bit of a prude.  Below are a few other choices naturally cleaner then some of the above options.





  

So as we celebrate our Scottish heritage take the chance to get your kilt out and wear it.  Listen to some great bagpipe music and enjoy some Haggis if that is to your liking.

If you think you might be related to some famous Scotsman or other British isles royalty then you should check out my post entitled - Are you Related to someone Famous?

Buaidh -  NO - Bas

  

Manaus Temple Open House

The public open house of the Manaus Brazil Temple begins tomorrow and continues through Saturday, June 2. Please follow the link below for additional information and to preview the interior. MANAUS BRAZIL TEMPLE OPEN HOUSE: http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/manaus-brazil-temple-open-house-dedication-dates-ann ounced-May-June

Warmest regards,
Rick Satterfield
LDSChurchTemples.com


So why would I want to include something about the open house in Manaus?  It's not anywhere close to where I live and doesn't on the face of it appear to have anything to do with ancestors or the current topics I seem to be discussing here. Well let me explain.

I served my mission back in the early to mid 90's in Northern Brazil. I started out on the east coast (Fortaleza - Ceará)  and then slowly made my way across to eventual end up serving literally in the Amazon rain forest. The city was basically accessible by boat only. I heard of a bus that went to another nearby city  but again from there you took a boat to any other city worth talking about. And the nearest big city was accessible again by boat but we went in by airplane for about  1 1/2 hours flight from mission headquarters in Belém Do Pará. This region is just full of jungle and forest and waterways all over the place.  Travel can be time consuming and some people don't go more then a few miles from home their  entire life.
Secondly, this Temple is significant in that it is going to make things easier for thousands of people to attend. Previously members in this region were taking trips to far flung locations such as São Paulo, Brazil, Recife, Brazil or Caracas Venezuela. Any one of these trips would take days to get there and then days to return. Only the few well off members that could afford a plane ticket would be able to make the trip be less then a week.     Many members due to financial circumstances would have to save up for years to be able to afford the trip. So getting to the temple once in your lifetime would be a big deal. I even heard of one family that sold their small home to help finance the trip. Now that is living by  faith.

Selling your most valuable possessions to finance a trip that will likely last a couple of weeks so you can attend the temple.
With in the last couple of conferences President Thomas S Monson specified that they wanted to  make the temples more accessible to the members and have them within about 400 miles (640 km)
See some of his comments at the following links:   http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/04/the-holy-temple-a-beacon-to-the-world?lang=eng   
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/as-we-meet-again?lang=eng

They even created a special fund much like the Perpetual Education Fund called the Temple Patrons Fund that will assist those in far flung locations to be able to attend the temple at least once in their lifetime if their financial outlook is very limited.   So why so much emphasis on the Temple one might ask. Why would a people in a church that was just a few years old work on building a Temple from day one knowing that might never see it's completion? (see D&C 109).
Those are the questions one should be asking. Temples are different from the normal meeting houses you find dotting the land and islands of the sea. In the normal meeting house or other such building being used for that purpose you find the regular  Sunday meetings which include the administration of the Sacrament. These buildings might also be used  for such things as social activities, youth program, and other such things that help to strengthen the members.  These buildings are open to member and non-member alike.   The Temple is literally a 'House of the Lord' "a holy sanctuary in which sacred ceremonies and ordinances of the gospel are performed by and for the living and also in behalf of the dead. A place where the Lord may come, it is the most holy of any place of worship on the earth. Only the home can compare with the temple in sacredness." - Bible dictionary Temples

Some of the many types of ordinances that are performed in the Temple include but are not limited to - The endowment, Sealing of Families for the Eternities, and Proxy Baptisms. Many of these ordinances are performed for the living and some are performed exclusively for our deceased ancestors that we have found while doing our family history or genealogy work.
You might say that some people will be taken aback by the fact that we do proxy baptisms. But, why should someone feel that way. Would it be just for God to deny one entrance into  Heaven by the mere fact that they were not able to be baptized during their lifetime or for that matter even knew about Jesus Christ. We know that God not a respecter of persons. We know we are all literally spirit sons and daughters of God.   So is it right to punish some people for the circumstances beyond their control that they find  themselves in? Just because you were born in certain part of the world or to a certain kind  of parents? So that is why we do proxy baptisms, to provide the same opportunities to everyone that has lived on this earth. To allow them the same blessing and privileges that they would have had while in their moral existence had it been available. This is not a new concept at all. For it was spoken of  by early members of the Lord's Church -  "Else what shall they do which are ^abaptized ^bfor the dead,  if the dead ^crise not at all? why are they then baptized for the ^ddead?" I Corinthians 15:29

Actually, I used this type of example many a time in the mission field. And so that the people we were teaching would understand more easily we always talked about some long lost person out in the middle of the Amazon Rain forest. For there are tribes and others that are so far away from any population centers or that  are so isolated from the rest of world you really have no idea what that know about. They might not have ever heard about Jesus Christ. Therefore, should those people be condemned? Should they be sent to hell  simply because they grow up so isolated from the rest of the world? Heck NO!

And because ordinances are so sacred and special they can only be performed in the Temple. Those that attend are also instructed in the Plan of Salvation, and they take upon themselves sacred covenants. One of the outwardly signs of this is the use of the Temple Garments. These garments help the member dress modestly compared to the world as a whole. And they are a constant reminder of the covenants that one has made.
The Temple becomes a place of peace and a sanctuary from the daily hustle and bustle and noise that surrounds us so regularly. They are built to a higher standard and members that want to enter are also held to a higher standard.

In all attendance at the temple is the highest form of worship we as members can provide.  It is taking things one level up.  Though in reality we can have the same peace and comfort in our homes as we strive to follow the commandments and live the gospel to its fullest.

I'm going to include some pictures of the temples I have been inside.  They are all marvelous in their own ways.  each is unique but, after you have strolled the grounds and been inside you know that in fact they are "The House of the Lord".  A truely a light set o a hill that will be a beacon to the masses, and a sign of what is to come.

San Diego Temple

Los Angeles California

Sao Paulo Brazil

Provo Utah (The original)

Newport Beach California

Manti Utah (one of the few with live endowment)

Saint George Utah

Recife Brazil

Redlands California

I'm going to include also some pictures of the Manaus temple.
This show the quality level of the workmanship.  Only the best when possible for with such eternally significant covenants being made there it's no wonder.

Baptistry

Celestial Room

Sealing room - Note Mirrors on apposing walls

Reception/Waiting Room

If you feel like doing a little family history after reading why  not try one of the world's largest databases for free - http://www.familysearch.org
You can also find a family history center in your area where volunteers are waiting to help you find your ancestors.

Buaidh - NO - Bas

To Slave or not to Slave

Recently we have been watching the genealogical program on PBS called "Finding your Roots" hosted by Henry Louis Gates.  This is similar to the program "Who do you think you are?" on NBC.

It is a very interesting program and they have had a slew of interesting celebrities on the program.  Many times they like to go with Black people as the background for these people is always muddied due to slavery in the United States prior to the Civil War.

Though the last episode was very different as they used Kevin Bacon and his wife Kyra Sedgwick.   The host always like to show how we are so interconnected and the muddied pasts of most people.  He loves to also dispel myths and legends about our origins.   And one way they do this is DNA testing.  This can help in identifying major zones of ethnic origin.  It can help to identify a percentage of "White" , "African", and/or "Asian" (what they term Native American at times).

So with Bacon and Sedgwick they did not need to do the whole DNA testing since they more or less could be termed "White".  Though I think they did it anyways to verify the "Jewish" portion of one's background.  What became more interesting is the little known secret of how many of the founding fathers all had slaves.
Gates brings this up with both Bacon and Sedgwick.  It appears that in the case of Bacon he has an ancestor of Quaker origins that had a slave.  Sedgwick's case is similar in that a long standing colonial family figure had a slave of sorts but interestingly helped in emancipating one later.  Somewhat confusing but, none the less interesting. In fact slavery in the early days of the United States was not just in the southern colonies like Georgia, South Carolina, Virgina, etc.  It was practiced in places like Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania as well.

George Washington had slaves, and so did Thomas Jefferson.  So you have to ask - When did things begin to change in the north such that it became repugnant to own slaves where it was still acceptable in the southern region of the United States?  There had to be some kind of societal change where people began to shift away from holding slaves and actually working to abolish it in its entirety.  Maybe it was the fact that the "North" was becoming more industrialized while the "South" was becoming more agricultural based in its economy.  Slaves seemed great for the back breaking labor of the fields.   And the north gained the many semi-skilled European immigrants.

But, this all bring up the hypocrisy present when the founding fathers made the declaration "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness".  Equal as long as you were not a slave.  That is the perplexing thing that comes from all this.  As you dig deeper, you find they wanted that Utopian society where in reality all men where free, to pursue their dreams as long as it did not invade or interfere with your neighbor.  But, in reality life was not very fair back then.  Sometimes only land holders could vote, forget about women, and there were certain groups of people classified as inferior and unable to do such things as hold land, or move about freely.

You can say this was a sad chapter in the history of the United States.  But, it could well be in the minds of the founding fathers that getting some rights and the ability to self govern for some if not eventually all was better then not having any of that in the first place.  This as we know eventually lead to the great Civil War.  One of the only wars fought by the United States on our own soil.  And what a deadly cost we did pay with thousands of lives lost, and tons of family forever changed.

Slavery has been around from since the beginning of recorded history.  It was practiced all around the Middle Eastern / Asia Minor region for thousands of years.  Groups like the Vikings engaged in it all over Europe for years to one degree or another.  And it was common practice in Africa centuries and some might say it still exists there in one form or another.  And in the Americas, especially large agricultural regions like Brazil, or the South it was practiced for years. But, what ever the reason it has finally become unacceptable to practice Slavery.   Though through indentured servitude and debt bondage it carries on in some places in the world.



Brazil is an interesting case as they never really had a big civil war over the ending of slavery like it there was in the United States.  It actually was abolished piece meal over time until finally in 1888 Princess Isabel decreed it done and over with.  Before that they made baby steps to solving the problem.  Some in fact were token gestures that did like to end the problem. Like giving all slaves over 60 their freedom.  If the average life span of a slave was just 20 something years this covered therefore a small percentage of the slave population.  They also declared the "sons" of slaves freed.  This appears to not have covered the Females, and sadly some of them were used as slave producers by their owners in Brazil as well as many parts of the Southern States.
Many were also given freedom as they enlisted to fight in the Paraguayan War.  All token efforts to end the institution of slavery without going to war over it.  And to some extent it did work though Brazil was one of the last countries to abolish slavery altogether.
It kind of phased out as more and more semi-skilled labor from Europe (mostly Italy) came to work on the large plantations.



It's a sordid past we live.  A dark spot on humanity.  But, in the end the light at the end of the tunnel has come.  Equality is ever present, but, we still have to fight to make sure there is justice where justice is due.  And not just on the front of Slavery.  We also have to make sure we continue to allow for religious freedom and equality.   It all goes back to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" as long as does not get in the way of other people.

So don't be shy in finding out if there is there are a few skeletons in your family's closet.  You might be surprised at what you find hiding in there.  And it might not be all that bad.







Buaidh - NO - Bas

Historical Gaeldom - A perspective

I just started to read a book entitled "Kenneth" by Nigel Tranter.  I'd seen the name before because he wrote a historical fiction about Somerled.    So when I spotted the book for 25¢ at the local Friends of the Library I had to jump at the chance.  Helps that it is about one of my other many Gaelic Ancestors and none other then Kenneth Mac Alpin the Famous leader of the the Dal Riata and Picts.  At times called a Nation builder since we join the two groups together politically for the first time or so they say.





What I find interesting is the many different cross cutting details provided from this book and the general history of Gaeldom as we know it.   It is said that the Scottish kingdom of Dal Riata was settled by some Irish (possibly in Exile) back who knows how far.   And thus this spread eventually to cover all of what we now call Scotland.  But, the ever mysterious Picts are in the middle of all this. along with the mixed area like Galloway.

Due to poor record keeping or the mists of time the real details are a bit sketchy.    What is clear is that the language spoken in the Highlands of Scotland today is very much similar to the Gaelic of Ireland so there had to be some connection.  When exactly this connection began and to what extent it is hard to tell.  It goes back to an age of legends and Legendary leaders like Cormac Mac Airt, Fergus Mór mac Eirc, St. Columba and St. Patrick.  This connection carried on well into the 16th century with the employment of the Galloglass mercenaries in

Ireland that in many cases came from the clans of the highland.  And then there was the concerted effort to import Scots into northern Ireland during the plantations phase, hoping to supplant the local catholic population.

Diagram of Celtic languages of British Isles
(Michael Newton, 2008) - http://sites.stfx.ca/celtic_studies/hist_gaelic_scotland

One thing I find interesting in the book by Nigel Tranter is the mention of Kilts early on in the book.  It is not very clear when exactly kilts came into being.
 "- It being not difficult to tell which was which, for the Gaels all wore tartans, plaids, jerkins, kilts.  Most men were fighting on foot, hand-to-hand, the preferred method in close combat."
Kenneth - Nigel Tranter Page 26

But by the 16th century they were present in Scotland.  They got banded at one point and by the good fortune of a couple of English men were reintroduced in the 18th century.  But, the kilt came from Ireland in fact and cross the Irish sea at some unknown time.  But, that is the great part of historical fiction.  You can meld together the known facts and fill in the gaps with stuff that makes sense.  it makes sense that a form of dress that would be come so wide spread in the highlands would have been present there for many years, alas decades if not centuries before we have it recorded down by foreigners.  What would have changed so drastically that the populous would have gone from some kind of pants to a start using a kilt?   That is a good question.  In reality the change must have been gradual and based on a need for some type of clothing like the Brat.
Thus the details are shrouded in the mists of time..... so we will never really know for sure.




I'm reminded of a conversation I once had with a client on the phone - good old Sean Mcmannus of the Irish National Caucus (some type of political group for sure) who just had to make sure I knew that good old Finn MacCoul was not real. 
However, he would have had to talk the better part of a day to prove his point and in the end he probably could not conclusively prove it so.   This is one area that most of the known material is sketchy at best, and very much in the realm of legend.  How in reality would believe that if you suck on your thumb down to the bone you can obtain the wisdom necessary to get out of any situation just because you touched a hot, blistering Salmon of knowledge while it was cooking?   But, we know the Fianna did exist.  So that is the part that makes thing complicated. 

So as I dive into the mists of time and try to piece together what I can about those ancient kingdoms of Dál Riata, Alba, Galloway and the such I find more questions then answers.  But, I continue to find fascinating things out at every turn.  And this can help me better appreciate the many good historical fictions written by such authors as Morgan Llywelyn and Nigel Tranter.



So here is to all our brothers - lost in time or not throughout all of Gaeldom - Picti, Caledonnii, Cumbrians, Albannach, Scoti, Hiberni, Dalriadian, Gallovidian, and Lochlannaich of the Hebridean Isles

You have all left us with a rich history.  May we be worthy of this honor.

If you'd like to see if your related to any of these great historical figures check out my post on Are You Related to Someone Famous

Buaidh - NO - Bas

Dysfuncional Families

You've heard the saying about someone being from a dysfunctional family.  But what does that really mean? 

As I begin to see situations in my own family I being to wonder if normal is a contrived state that psychologists have "made" up to get more business.  People really did not worry about this as much 1,000 years ago.

The best case in point is when you see the more or less "wonderful/perfect" life of those at church while at the same time not knowing what is fully occurring in their lives.   We know a couple who are now both retired and serving a mission for the church.  At meeting they appears to have everything going for them.  Nice home, minimal financial issues, reasonably good health and the like.  Few people know or knew that they have a son serving time in prison (most likely relating to drugs), and that his health is far worse then one would imagine.  And other kids are not active in the church.  On the surface they have it all.  Underneath the covers is the other half of the story.

So do we have a "standard" of perfection that in many instances is near impossible to achieve?  Take the "perfect" family with 1 boy, 1 girl a stay at home mom and dad with a wonderful job that affords them a house on a quite street with a nice white picket fence.
At least here in California  that ideal is near impossible to achieve.  To many have both spouses working just to make ends meet.  Many families are 1 car families, and due to the cost of living to many families are opting for just one child.   Sounds like the "real" normal to me.


So just because someone's family does not fit into your ideal for a family does not mean they are not normal?   I love that word NORMAL.   I can define what I want as normal and if you don't fit into it you are weird and dysfunctional.  But, the next guy a couple of houses down might not find my normal to be his normal and thus the grand old debate.

In the end sadly to say if all the husbands on a given street beat their wives daily then that would be the "norm" and the one guy that does not could be considered dysfunctional or weird.  Though, we all know that the more you become educated the more likely you will avoid these types of bad behaviors.  And I'm not talking about simply becoming educated in the University/College sense of the word.  I'm talking about an expanded mind, a less ignorant point of view, and wider horizons.  This moves bigotry and the like to the back corner.

So I'd say I have a somewhat dysfunctional family in the fact that few of us talk on a regular basis even though most of us live with a few miles of one another.  We doe get together for the main holidays like Christmas. Thanksgiving and Mother's Day.  But, in no means do we communicate like you would expect a "normal" family.
I guess the love it not there......


I'm reminded of a subway art piece we acquire recently at a store.  It has a black background and whit lettering of various styles - it is titled 'Family Rules'.   This piece is neat as it includes about 20 different things to do around the home.  Examples include - Give hugs frequently, say I'm sorry, listen to your parents, say I love you, etc and etc.

Out and about on the internet are a ton of these types of wall art.
I guess if you strive to follow what they have written on them you can have that "perfect", "normal" family that is not dysfunctional.  And you might not have to go on anti-depressants to control your feelings as you fall short of that ideal in your head.

stikmup.blogspot.com

Buaidh - NO - Bas

Using the 1910 US Census

I found out a little something I'd like to talk about for a while today.
It all relates to the 1910 census.

So I was looking around for some relatives on the census data that is available on familysearch.org.  I did get lucky.  One of the reasons I was looking around at census data is to see what they might have put down for locations of birth for a great- grandfather.  And It turns out I was also looking for something that might show up on his first wife and the fact no one seems to have recorded my grand-aunt.

So as I got a hit on the 1910 census I was ecstatic.  I had the person(s) in questions and was jumping for joy.  I now could put the unrecorded grand-aunt in the system at new.familysearch.org.  But as always I found while looking into multiple census records that the spelling on the name could be in question.  It was spelled different on the 1910 census then the 1920 census.

So in my joy I sent the image off to my father and step-mother a very good genealogist and family history person.  She stumbled upon something that took my a while to process.  Turns out on the 1910 census they included a column by which a mother could list her total number of children and another column for how many were still alive.  Appears this was due to the Spanish flu that was going around the globe at that time.  It helped to see how may people/children may have been victims of the flu or had died early.

This information does not appear to be present on the 1920 census.  But, because of this we were able to located information regarding a child that died in infancy that as far as I know no one knew about.

I'm going to include an image of the census for the part of Ogden, Utah that matters to me. 

This might just spur you on to find out if you have a lost relative listed in the census.  In reality they provide a variety of very useful information in the census.  Mainly, you see the country/state of origin/birth, information on whether the father/mother are of foreign origin (sometimes it give the country), then things like how old, how long married, language or education information etc.

Census data can point us in the right direction to find other supporting documents for our not so distant relatives.  In some cases you can even see the migration of a family across the United States due to the locations of births of some children.

There is a vast array of information out there and we just need to tap into it.  Some of these ancestors are just waiting to be found.

But, some pragmatic people might say - "why bother doing all this work so you can finally baptize your deceased relatives?  So many people lived that have no record we'll never find them all."

Good point.  We may not find them all today or even in the next few years.  But, as we see how the plan works - that everyone will have the opportunity to have their saving ordinances completed, we will also see that God has not forgotten us.  He loves all his spirit children whether there are records for them or not.  He know us all by name and has not forgot even a one.  This people is something to shout from the roof tops to the whole world.

Buaidh - NO - Bas

In honor of the Frequent Russian visitors

В честь некоторых из моих Прославленных Предков - Yaroslav "Мудрый" Великий Герцог Кива, Владимир Ярославик Дьюк Новгорода, и т.д и из-за популярности русских, посещающих этот blog я объявляю эту маленькую секцию на русском языке.

Не забывайте видеть связь о священных писаниях, являющихся доступным на русском языке

Hopefully the translation site Freetranslation.com did an OK job in translating from English to Russian.  The translations they do from English to Portuguese (Of which I'm fluent) and visa versa are OK but, do have some sentence structure issues here and there.  They do provide enough you can figure out what is going on.

I'd like to have you link to the following and pass this on if you know someone that speaks Russian. 

New Triple Combination Published in Russian

Новый тройной сборник издан на русском языке

 Oh how small the world seems at times!

Buaidh - NO - Bas

Are Kids over Scheduled?

I currently have a position as Cub Master in the local Pack.  We have only a hand full of boys since we are associated with the local church and that is how we recruit.  Nothing really outside the church membership.  Thus our numbers have not reached over 5 boys in the 2 1/2 years since I was called to this position.
During this time I have fought with the ever constant problem of other activities interfering with our meeting schedules.  Things like Baseball, Soccer, Piano Lessons, Choral groups and the like.  In your area the list could go on.  All worthy activities right?  The problem is we seem to take a back seat to some of these other activities.  We have had boys that don't show up for Den Meetings for a a month at a time since it is not working with the current baseball schedule or games and/or practice.

So are we over scheduling our children?  Are we signing them up for way to much stuff?  Are we trying to pass of our innate need to parent on someone else?

I know that in today's world there are the single parents that have to fill up activities or day care while they are off at work.  And then there are the families where both parents work to make ends meet.
But, then there is the classic "Soccer Moms" thus named since they are racing all over town dropping off their kids at some soccer event.  They spend a large portion of their day ferrying their children around to their million activities.  And they are likely the same ones that are waiting line at the local In-n-Out burger drive-thru that almost always has a line.

Have we forgotten how to interactive properly with our children?  Have we forgotten how to use cooking dinner as a teaching moment by deciding to place our kids in a cooking class.  What will they learn there that you could not teach them while at home.  Imagine the interaction and learning that would occur as you help your child pick out a recipe; fine the ingredients already present at home and then shop for the remain items and finally cook the food!

or how about the young 3-4 years olds doing cheesy ballet at the park with an instructor.  Can't mom do hopping and the like with their child anymore?  Or do you have to get your exercise at the gym and your child in a structured overpriced class you could just as well do at home?

So as we struggle to find a good meeting time that will get the most boys to our meeting we sit and wonder..... what is really more important.  Cub Scouts or something else?  And/or why can't you find a way to do both?


Buaidh - NO  - BAS

Are You related to someone famous? part II

Well I went and revisited the site to find out about famous relatives.
And guess what?  They made it better and more improved

Here is the link again.
http://roots.cs.byu.edu/

What is cool is the fact they are tagging into the familysearch database and the information you have provided (with your permission) and are able to show a more direct link.  In the past it was only to your distant relative.  Now it can show all the way to you.

Now generally when you hit a royal line like in my case you get only a dozen or so people since they can't show every count, princess or the like.  But, with the improved system you can add in other relatives or people you want to verify if you have any link to and get a report for this.

So Like any good member of the Clan MacDougall (http://macdougall.org) I felt I should put in our Patriarch - Somerled.

What amazed me was the fact that I do have a direct line to Somerled.  But the more amazing part is that it goes through the second child - Reginald.   Not the route I was expecting.





It is also very interesting to see the linkage between various states like Portugal and the rest of the Iberian Peninsula or England and Scotland.



So I'm going to give some of the ID codes (Ancestral file Number- AFN) that one would need to check their linkage to the great Somerled and other notables of the time frame.

PZ7J-20 -  ISLES, Somerled King Of The

8WKN-4B - ENGLAND, Edward I Longshanks King Of

9G9N-60 - SCOTLAND, Kenneth I Macalpin King Of



So if you find anything interesting using this site please provide the information.  It's amazing what we can find.  I just wish I could solve the problems I'm having with my ancestor George McCool who came from Canada to Macon Illinois in the 1850's.


So for Now
Buaidh - NO - Bas

To Haggis or not to Haggis

Well over the memorial day weekend we attended the local Highland Games and Festival at the county fair grounds.  It's been call Scots Fest for sometime now.

We have an annual tradition to attend and always have a good time.
This year as I took too long to get back from the Clan tent my step-mother (a very southern lady) decided to buy some Haggis while watching a band called "Ploughboy".
We'd heard that Haggis is basically just a bunch of oatmeal and chitlets (innards) cooked in a sheep's stomach.  She had something similar as a child so she took the plunge this year.

I'll say I was not overly impressed when I tried it.  Little bit of a nutty flavor, though not down right bad.  I enjoyed the Bangers and Onions and the Fish and Chips much better.  No one tried the meat pies or sausage rolls this year.

I'm including a copy of a recipe I found out there in cyber space so people can know what is included in Haggis

• 1 sheep's lung (illegal in the U.S.; may be omitted if not available)
• 1 sheep's stomach
• 1 sheep heart
• 1 sheep liver
• 1/2 lb fresh suet (kidney leaf fat is preferred)
• 3/4 cup oatmeal (the ground type, NOT the Quaker Oats type!)
• 3 onions, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 3/4 cup stock

Wash lungs and stomach well, rub with salt and rinse. Remove membranes and excess fat. Soak in cold salted water for several hours. Turn stomach inside out for stuffing.

Cover heart and liver with cold water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Chop heart and coarsely grate liver. Toast oatmeal in a skillet on top of the stove, stirring frequently, until golden. Combine all ingredients and mix well. Loosely pack mixture into stomach, about two-thirds full. Remember, oatmeal expands in cooking.

Press any air out of stomach and truss securely. Put into boiling water to cover. Simmer for 3 hours, uncovered, adding more water as needed to maintain water level. Prick stomach several times with a sharp needle when it begins to swell; this keeps the bag from bursting. Place on a hot platter, removing trussing strings. Serve with a spoon. Ceremoniously served with "neeps, tatties and nips" -- mashed turnips, mashed potatoes, nips of whiskey.

http://www.gumbopages.com/food/scottish/haggis.html

or just buy a can here to save all the effort

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We Took in the band "Bad Haggis" while having lunch.  We've enjoyed them in the past, and at one point they even had a Brazilian doing some of their vocals and percussion.
Who can go wrong with a little rock, and bagpipes on overdrive?



I also finally picked up a copy of the CD "Sons of Somerled" by Steve McDonald.  Since my Clan (MacDougall) comes from the senior surviving line of Somerled (Via his second wife) I felt I needed to get a copy of the disc.  On top of that our fairy princess won a signed copy of another disc by the same musician. His music is worth checking out!


We even got to check out a small Norse encampment setup.  Nice people even showed us some weaving.  They could have done a lot more with it though.  That's what you get when use volunteers.




Buaidh - NO - Bas

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