Burning of the Clavie

Posted by Lucy on January 13, 2006

Just come home from our few days away in a pink castle (no – I am perfectly serious) – have unpacked, had lunch and will now try to remember everything and document it Kids are just puddling with TV and computer games – just an unwinding afternoon.

Started off going to the North of Scotland Home Educators group’s New Years Party. Really good fun – think everyone had a good time. There was a really good pass the parcel with instructions inside each layer such as ‘give this to the oldest player’ etc. which stimulated communication. Then Bubbles the Clown entertained us with juggling, giant spiders, plate spinning and balloon animals. I really liked the fact that, unlike school parties, all the children could choose which activities they took part in. No-one tried to coerce anyone into doing things they didn’t want to. There was an extremely artistic lady doing face painting – some amazing looking people walking around after that. Lots of new faces at the group again – seems to be growing at quite a rate.

Then we headed off to stay with friends Lynda and Michaela at Brodie Castle – very exciting. Had a quick supper then set off to see the ‘Burning of the Clavie‘, a very ancient fire festival. Amazing and well, rather dangerous! The clavie was carried around the village of Burghead with bits being given away for luck or picked up by the crowd. It then finally ended up on one of the ramparts of the old Pictish fort where the crew proceded to throw (with great gusto and glee) large barrels of diesel and paraffin onto it, creating fireballs and clouds of black smoke. We were stood quite a distance away, with a graveyard in between us and the Clavie but could feel the heat from there. Met in with a friend of Lynda’s who is a lecturer in folklore so picked up a lot of extra info. on the event. Daniel had a bit of a discussion about fire festivals with him. Things end when the Clavie post finally breaks and they retrieve the nail (use same nail every year – a bit Pictish) and go ‘first footing’ round the village with the post. All most fascinating and enjoyable.

The pubs in Burghead provide free food on Clavie night but it was really cold and late so we returned to the castle… to no electricity. When this happens everyone retreats to the Gardeners Cottage as they have solid fuel heating and lanterns. Was a very merry gathering. I was impressed with the childrens’ confidence, meeting so many strangers but joining in the joke telling and story round with enthusiasm (an amazing story featuring a 3 legged haggis and an empty bottle of Scotch, alien abduction at Brodie, Darth Vader and Yoda and an infamous advert in Scot-Ads!!!). All very interesting for us to hear about the inner workings of a National Trust property. Met a ranger from St. Kilda who told us what life is like there now. Very tired children were finally put to bed in the castle and us adults stayed up chatting into the small hours.

After that exceptionally exciting day we had a more relaxing one on Thursday, getting up late, having a little trip to Findhorn, lovely walk round the pond and a private tour of the castle. Below: Rodney stone, swan on pond, castle and highland cows.