revolve rapidly, the revellers successively leap up and endeavour to grasp the
apple with their teeth—the hands must not be used—if they fail, the candle
generally swings round in time to salute them disagreeably. The reader will note
the resemblance between this pastime and the game of quintain, to which our
forefathers were partial.
Another amusement is to dive for apples in a tub of water.
In Strathspey, a lass will steal away from the kitchen fire, make her way to the
kiln where the corn is dried, throw a ball of thread into it, and wind it up slowly,
while uttering certain words. The form of her future lover will take hold of the
end of the thread, and reveal itself to her. The most arduous part of this charm is,
that no speaking is allowed either on the outward journey or the return.
Another mode of lover’s divination is for the young people, after being duly
blindfolded, to go forth into the kailyard, or garden, and pull the first stalks they
meet with. Returning to the fireside, they determine, according as the stalk is big
or little, straight or crooked, what the future wife or husband will be. The
quantity of earth adhering to the root is emblematic of the dowry to be expected;
and the temper is indicated by the sweet or bitter taste of the motoc or pith.
Lastly, the stalks are placed in order, over the door, and the Christian names of
persons afterwards entering the house signify in the same order those of the
wives and husbands in futuris.
Burns describes another custom:
“In order on the clean hearth-stane,
The luggies[61] three are ranged,
And every time great care is ta’en
To see them duly changed:
And uncle John wha wedlock’s joys
Sin’ Mar’s-year did desire,
Because he gat the toom-dish[62] thrice,
He heav’d them on the fire
In wrath that night.”For this amusement three dishes are taken: one filled with clean and one with
dirty water, and the other empty. They are set upon the hearth, and the parties,
blindfolded, advance in succession to dip their fingers. If they chance upon the
clean water, it is understood that they will marry a maiden; if upon the foul, they
will marry a widow; if upon the empty dish, they will not marry at all.