Tag Archives: Folklore

An dreathan-donn – eun beag leòmach / the wren – small and ‘conceited’

Posted on June 26, 2020 by

Ged a tha an dreathan-donn beag, gu dearbh chan eil e bog / The wren might be diminutive, but in Gaelic tradition, it has a high opinion of itself… An dreathan-donn – eun beag leòmach Ann am beul-aithris nan Gàidheal, … Continue reading →

Posted in Beinn Eighe NNR, Birds, Folklore, Gaelic, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

Cnò Mhoire agus ar n-Eadar-cheangaltas / ‘Mary’s Nut’ and our Interconnectedness

Posted on April 28, 2020 by

Tha cnò iongantach, air a bheil fèill, a’ cur nar cuimhne mar a tha an cuan mòr gar ceangal ri chèile thar na cruinne / A celebrated West Indian bean found on Scottish strands reminds us of how ocean currents … Continue reading →

Posted in beach, beaches, coastal, Folklore, Gaelic, Scottish Natural Heritage, sea life, SNH, Uncategorized, Year of Coasts and Waters 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Uilebheistean a’ Chuain / Gaelic Sea Monsters

Posted on April 2, 2020 by

An e fìor chreutairean a bh’ anns a’ chionaran-crò agus cìrean-cròin? / Are the great Gaelic sea-monsters merely creatures of myth? Uilebheistean Iongantach a’ Chuain Tha creutairean car annasach nar dualchas a tha a’ fuireach fon mhuir, leithid mhaighdeannan-mara agus … Continue reading →

Posted in coastal, Folklore, Gaelic, History, mammals, Marine, Scottish Natural Heritage, sea life, SNH, Uncategorized, Year of Coasts and Waters 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Iasgair nan Loch / The Fisher of the Lochs

Posted on January 16, 2020 by

Tha iasgair iteach air a chuimhneachadh ann an Loch an Iasgair / Loch an Iasgair means ‘loch of the fisher’ but it’s not the human variety. ‘Iasgair’ nan Loch Anns an dùthaich mhonadail, gharbh air cùl Pholl Iù, tha loch … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, Folklore, Gaelic, History, SNH, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Leigheasann Tonn a’ Chladaich / Thrifty Gaelic Cures

Posted on December 19, 2019 by

Tha tonn a’ chladaich na leigheas airson dà thinneis, a rèir beul-aithris / Traditional lore identifies thrift as means of curing two ailments. Leigheas airson Trom-inntinn is Ceann-daoraich ’S e tonn a’ chladaich (ris an can cuid neòinean a’ chladaich) … Continue reading →

Posted in coastal, Flowers, Folklore, foraging, Gaelic, History, Natural Health Service, sea life, SNH, Uncategorized, wild flowers | Tagged , , , , , , , ,

A’ Ghaoth agus an Aimsir / Wind and Weather

Posted on November 26, 2019 by

Faodaidh atharrachadh na gaoithe a rèir na combaist innse dhuinn mun aimsir a tha romhainn / The direction of the wind can help us predict the weather, according to traditional lore. Àirde na gaoithe agus ro-innse na h-aimsir Tha seanfhacal … Continue reading →

Posted in coastal, Folklore, Gaelic, History, Marine, sea life, SNH, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Very superstitious – nature and folklore in the spotlight

Posted on September 13, 2019 by

Explore Scotland’s natural environment and you will soon discover that it is packed full of folklore and superstition. Down through the years a close connection with nature led people to interpret its signs and symbols in many weird and wonderful ways. … Continue reading →

Posted in Folklore | Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

To plant a rowan

Posted on April 6, 2016 by

From the ruins of old crofts to the landscaped grounds of Great Glen house, the rowan holds a special place in Scottish gardens. Iain Macdonald, SNH’s Biodiversity Strategy Officer, tells its story. I love photographs of isolated croft houses.  You … Continue reading →

Posted in Folklore, Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , ,