Gàidhlig / English
Ròic

Ròic

Posted by Tòmas on 21 December 2017

A useful word for this time of year. Ròic is a large amount of food, a banquet or feast.

The word was recorded in Faclan bhon t-Sluagh from informants in Kilmuir and Breakish, in the Isle of Skye, and also from Scalpay.

In other places a slightly different definition is given for the same word. An informant in Nethy Bridge, near to Aviemore, describes it as ‘a great stir and excitement’.  We also find in Scalpay that it could mean a ‘roast (mutton)’, or ‘luxuriously feeding’.

In Colin Mark’s dictionary, examples of how the word are used are given in ‘dèan ròic, revel’ and ‘thoir ròic de, regale’.  And from existing literature, he gives the example: ‘cha chanadh tu gur e ròic a bh’ ann, you couldn’t say it was a banquet’.

The informant from Breakish also puts the word in context: ‘Bha ròic againn air buntàta is sgadan’, we had a feast of tatties and herring — in otherwords, we had our fill of it.

There is also the phrase ‘fios fithich gu ròic’, literally a raven’s knowledge to a feast. This describes the uncanny, even supernatural, knack the raven has at being in the right place for a meal. As Dwelly says, the proverb would be used for ‘one arriving accidentally and opportunely’.

In ‘Soraidh leis an Nollaig Ùir’ (Farewell to the New Christmas) by Màiri Mhòr nan Òran she thinks back sadly on the people and communities that used to exist in Skye but have now gone. In one verse she says:

’N uair a chruinnicheadh gach òigh,
’S ann an sud a bhiodh an ròic,
Measair chàbhruich air a’ bhòrd,
’S na fleasgaich anns an t-seòmar shuas.
 
[When all the young women would gather,
Then you’d have a feast and celebration,
A dish of sowens on the table,
And the young men in the upper room.]

 
For those like me not familiar with ‘sowens’, one definition is ‘cracked oats eaten with jelly and milk’.

Changing Màiri Mhòr’s words a wee bit, I hope you have a Christmas:

A thogas gean air comann ciùin,
’S air nach cuir reòtha giùig,
Ged a bhios an Dùbhlachd fuar.

[That makes a quiet company merry,
And that no frost will cause to shiver,
However cold the winter weather.]



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