The Burning of the Clavie

We went along to Burghead last night to bring in the New Year. That's New Year according to the Julian Calendar for those of you raising an eyebrow and quietly thinking that I've perhaps lost the plot!

It's the first year I've attended and it was heaving. Unsurprisingly there are plenty of people keen to celebrate the arrival of 2014 twice. And it is completely mental, but in a good way. I'm totally impressed that in this age of 'health and safety' they manage to continue this tradition, which has been going on every year on the 11th January since well before 1750, when the new Gregorian Calendar was introduced.

So what happens? Basically, a specially cut down barrel is mounted on a pole and filled with wood shavings, tar and long staves of wood. It is set alight and carried by the Clavie King and his Clavie Crew around the old part of the village. They stop to refuel and to present pieces of the burning wood to various homes and businesses. It is considered an honour to receive an ember from the barrel as it will ward off witches and bring good luck. They end up at Doorie Hill on the ramparts of an ancient fort where the Clavie is mounted on a plinth and generously refuelled (ie buckets of very highly flammable liquid are liberally chucked into the flames). Pieces of burning wood are broken off and given out to the crowd who carry them home still alight (how?). The barrel is allowed to burn until it topples down, the fire burned out.

Then the crowds retreat to celebrate the New Year with friends in the usual way :)

Happy New Year again Blippers!