DASG Blog

Cailleach

“Chuir sinn a’ chailleach ort!”

It’s clear now that the harvest time is now over and the grip of winter is closing in on us but I’m to be remembering the harvest time in books right now.

As I was reading in the book “Gnàthasan-cainnt” (Idiom/expression) by Donald Graham I came across a phrase about the folklore of North Uist, “Chuir sinn a’ chailleach ort!” (We’ve given you the old woman”). The information notice next to it said “‘We finished before you!’ (One would say this at harvest time when the first to finish would put an image of an old woman in the field of their neighbour)”.
It was accustomed to the North Uist folk to put a scarecrow of an elderly lady in the field of the last person to finish at the harvest time. This is clear in the song that Andrew Laing (Anndra Hòranairigh) wrote, “Òran na Caillich” in the Greentrax recording “Bu chaoin leam bhith ’n Uibhist” (volume 25), where this old practise is explained: “It was custom in north Uist for the township to send a “Cailleach” or corn dolly, to the crofter who was last to bring home the harvest, with the intended purpose of embarrassing the recipient. When Andrew Laing heard he was to be the recipient of the “cailleach”, he composed this satire.”

As it turned out, he was not the last person to gather and finish his harvest, but he wrote the song anyway, writing against those who would have mocked or complained, saying:

“Sibhse tha mach le sgiobaidhean mòr,
Luchd-cuideachaidh dhlò is bhanntan,
Chì sibh fhathast, ged tha mi nam ònrachd,
Sgiobadh gu leòr aig Anndra” (a’ ciallachadh a chailleach)
 
(“All you out with big teams
Helpers of and gathering and binding
You’ll see still, though I’m alone,
There’s enough teamwork with Andrew”) (meaning his cailleach)
 
Though I should say that no one, thing or cailleach was hurt in this blog. Putting a finish to the blog, I’ll leave you with another verse showing that Andrew was not embarrassed with a cailleach at all, and if you are ever in possession of a cailleach in the future remember this verse in order to welcome her.

“Fàilt’ ort, a chaillich, na fan as an tuath
Gad lathadh le fuachd a’ gheamhraidh:
Tha deoch agus biadh is connadh do dhìol,
Agad aig crìochan Anndra” (Cuir ur n-ainm ri seo).
 
(“Welcome, old woman, don’t stay in this part
Freezing in the winter’s coldness
There’s drink and food and fuel of your fill
For you at Andrew’s place”) (Use you name here).
 
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