Reeling

Without a doubt I love Scottish reeling and everything about it. It is about being together and dancing together and includes all ages – no one is allowed to sit out. The word reel comes from the word to whirl or spin, the Old English word was hrēol, a device for winding whilst the old English word for a dance was “hoppian” “to spring, leap; to dance or to limp” – the description makes me laugh as it is so delightfully appropriate. 

The colloquial word for a reeling party is Ceilidh which comes from Gaelic for "visit" or "gathering," and such evenings originally encompassed stories, songs, and poetry. Conventionally, Scottish reeling is a form of traditional country dance. If you know what you are doing, the dances are marked by circular and gliding steps, usually set to 4/4 time music. There is only one step to learn but even that can flummox people. This involves "setting" with a partner by stepping from side to side and moving apart and back together. Looking at the dances from above, each one follows a series of patterns or formations, and every one seems to have a history.  

Some of them are danced only rarely at Scottish balls. The Skye Ball committee in particular takes great pleasure in pulling out one obscure dance each year to keep its members on their toes. Others such as the Dashing White Sergeant, Hamilton House, the Eightsome Reel and Reel of the 51st Division are the backbone of every reeling party up and down the country.                                                                                                                                                
Whilst at St Andrews University, I was quite involved in the Reeling Club which was popular in that it provided both teaching and a social event within the same night. As a further “bribe”, my flatmate Smiles and I would welcome any friends who came to reeling for supper afterwards. Happy not to cook or to wonder what they could do on a cold Monday evening in Scotland, we had a fairly good attendance rate. By the end of the first term, we were adept enough to attempt the dances in most of the local venues which was such fun. A large drink to fortify the spirits was of course “de rigueur.”

The big question for those who haven’t reeled before is what to wear. Supposedly, only true Scotsmen are allowed to wear the traditional kilt although plenty of descendants claiming even an iota of Scottish blood also enjoy wearing their family’s tartan, the knee-high wool socks and a Sporran which is the pouch worn over the kilt. Otherwise, black tie is perfect.

If Scottish, ladies wear a tartan sash over one shoulder but the main thing to stress for my girlfriends is to wear longer rather than shorter dresses to avoid any unnecessary exposure. Formal Scottish meetings still insist on long dresses, and you will not be allowed in if you do not comply whilst some of the grandest evenings like The Caledonian Ball still invite ladies to wear their tiaras. Comfortable shoes are vital, and stilettos are not helpful either for the floor or anyone else’s foot. Curiously enough, one tip is to avoid wearing bracelets as they will catch someone’s arms or snap off in a fast turn.

We have just celebrated Burns Nights here at Highclere. Some friends are quite good at reeling but to others it was an entirely new experience and only attempted after a large cocktail and finding there was nowhere to hide. Despite this, having started nobody wanted to stop.

In June, we are going to hold our first summer dance at Highclere and whilst we will  have a great band, cocktails, supper and dance floor, I think I cannot resist introducing a couple of reels at various points through the evening just to make sure everyone hits the dancefloor. I am so looking forward to bringing people together