Whuppity Scoorie at Lanark

1 March · Lanark, Lanarkshire

Still kept

When the Lanark town bell began its six months of nightly ringing in March, the young folk gathered at the cross for Whuppity Scoorie. After going three times round the parish church, the Lanark lads fought the New Lanark boys with caps tied to strings. Hazlitt quoted the Daily Mail of 4 March 1903 and said the meaning of the custom was lost.

On the first night of the ringing all the young folk congregate at the cross, and after parading three times round the parish church the Lanark lads meet the New Lanark boys in a free fight

From Hazlitt's Faiths and Folklore, vol. 2, p. 634. Read the original

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Folklore from the old calendars

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Tid, Mid, Misera No longer kept Northern EnglandNorthern country people counted down the Sundays of Lent as Tid, Mid, Miseray, Carling, Palm and Paste-egg Day, with Tid the first of the run.
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The serjeant-porter’s leek No longer kept LondonThe Flying Post of 1699 reported that on St David's Day the king, according to custom, wore a leek in honour of the ancient Britons.
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Swig Day at Jesus College No longer kept OxfordshireOn St David's Day Jesus College, Oxford, the college of the Welsh, filled a great silver-gilt bowl holding ten gallons with swig and passed it round the guests at its table.
A peck of March dust Lore and belief EnglandMarch was expected to be a dry, blustery month, and its dust was welcomed because dry weather was wanted for sowing and planting.
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Whuppity Scoorie at Lanark

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