Scottish/Celtic customs for dedicating a new home?

[macwilkin]

Just a quick note regarding horseshoes - my grandma said you're supposed to have it over the door, points up (ie in the "U" position) except tilted slightly, so that the luck will spill out onto whoever passes under it.

db

That's one of the theories of how to hang a horseshoe -- some say to hang it points down so the luck will run over the house.

T.

[Archangel]

We keep coming back to horse-shoes. Mind that it must be an iron shoe, a steel one is just a decoration.

[The Supreme Canuck]

Okay, I have to ask - where did the horseshoe thing come from, really? I always thought it was an American thing.

[macwilkin]

Okay, I have to ask - where did the horseshoe thing come from, really? I always thought it was an American thing.

It's pretty much a universal thing. Some credit St. Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury, who reportedly shoed the Devil's hoof "by mistake" and then removed the shoe only if Auld Nick promised to never enter a dwelling with a horseshoe above the threshold.

But there are many other legends that are just as, if not older, associated with the horseshoe. Horseshoes are considered lucky because of their association with blacksmiths and the "Holy Iron".

It used to be fairly common for a bride to be given a decorated horseshoe as she was leaving the kirk for good luck.

Regards,

Todd

[Archangel]

It's pretty much a universal thing. Some credit St. Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury, who reportedly shoed the Devil's hoof "by mistake" and then removed the shoe only if Auld Nick promised to never enter a dwelling with a horseshoe above the threshold.

But there are many other legends that are just as, if not older, associated with the horseshoe. Horseshoes are considered lucky because of their association with blacksmiths and the "Holy Iron".

It used to be fairly common for a bride to be given a decorated horseshoe as she was leaving the kirk for good luck.

Regards,

Todd

I would suggest that the Saint thing was a case of syncretism (whoa, there's a word).

Put yourself in the early times, Dark Ages, if you will, now imagine finding a piece of iron the size of a horse-shoe. You can do almost anything with wrought iron. It's like the plasticene of the age, heat it, shape it, use it. Need another tool? You just reshape it.
Only the rich have iron, and you just scored big time.
Lucky or Blessed? Your call.

[TORSCOT7007]

The first person to officially enter the home (at the Housewarming) Stands at the Threshold and offers;
a piece of coal; "May you always have fire in your hearth:
a bread roll; "May you always have bread on your table"
a silver coin; "May you always have money in your purse"
a box of matches; "May you always have light in your home"
a cloth; table napkin, handkerchief etc. "May you always have clothes on your back".
"Now from you, a wee dram to warm our hearts and seal the luck".
The 'Master of the house' then offers the Luck bringer a shot of Whisly- or these days any suitable drink- then leads the person into the house. The gifts are displayed on a table for the evening.
The next day, all is wrapped in the cloth and either;
a. Buried by the front doorstep
b. tucked away in the attic. It is now the 'Luck of the House' and must not be removed.
This is also done on New Year's Eve for "Old" houses.
__________________
TORSCOT R

BLESSING TO ALL TO ENTER, WITH JOY & LAUGHTER, MIRTH & PLEASURE

[Arlen]

A piece of iron either buried under or somehow put into the hearth brings good luck and safety to a new home.
That's one my family has always gone by. Although the fireplace is now plastered over because no one around here can buy coal anymore.

The 'first foot' ceremonies described above can also be done to dedicate a new house.
It should be a tall, dark-haired man.
In some places in Scotland it's also considered very, very, very good luck if a red-haired woman comes to your house and lights a fire in your hearth without saying anything to anyone.
(Once the fire's heartily roaring she can talk. She doesn't have to just leave after that.)
That said, it's bad luck if the first foot or first person in a new house is a red-haired man.

[katmills2005]

Sounds more like American Wicca than any real Celtic tradition.....Bloodroot & Hogwart with a dash of rue etc. My Granny never did anything like that.

There is a deep connection between Wicca and Celtic. Many of the wiccan traditions came from ancient celtic pagan traditions.

http://www.joellessacredgrove.com/Ce...raditions.html

http://www.amazon.com/Celtic-Traditi.../dp/080652135X


http://www.angelfire.com/realm2/amet...calmagick.html


If we celebrate our Celtic heritage, then we should understand the roots of our past fully. Celtic traditions are pagan. Many of those traditions were adopted by the Christian church and transformed into something the common people would understand and relate to. However, the core of Celtic pagan life revolved around nature and what was seen as their elements. A sprig of rue may seem like a bunch of nonsense to some, but then so would hanging a horseshoe over one's door.

[Mike1]

OK, this one is starting to cross the line.

Let's move back onto safe ground and discuss the dedication of a new home, rather than identifying practices that are pagan and/or religious in nature.

If we can't get this one steered back where it belongs, down it goes.

[GlassMan]

I was looking around and saw one reference to a having a piper to ward off evil spirits!