SHETLAND LIVE

• Sign Up For Free Now!

• 
  Windhouse
  - 4 replies in total
• 
  Da Trows
  - No replies yet
• 
  Busta House Ghosts
  - No replies yet

3 Photos

14 Member

6 Wall Posts

• 

  by STEVE 2 years ago

  The Trows and the Sandwick Farmer:
  
  http://www.orkneyjar.com/folklore/trows/sandwicktrows.htm
• 

  by STEVE 2 years ago

  the story of touching the elements
  
  http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/abduct.html#elements
• 

  by Inga Scott 2 years ago

  Shetland Superstitions about Birds - As owls were seldom seen in Shetland when one appeared it foretold of death or disaster for the community. A Ravens croak was supposed to mean death if it sounded 'Korp Korp' and a 'Wrack Wrack' for a disaster at sea. Another favourite was feeling the temperature of a Cocks feet - warm feet meant - good news was on its way, and cold feet foretold of death.
• 

  by shetlandpeat 2 years ago

  Does any one fancy reading some into an MP3 recorder for Audio show and for playing on PrestonFM?
  It would be fantastic. I am planning on coming up in Feb and will be bringing a mini studio set up. Details are to be confirmed but we could get a broadcast quality audio track for you to keep and get to hear it on radio and here on Shetland Live.
• 

  by Inga Scott 3 years ago

  Which is a witch
  The witch was sometimes identified by the use of 3 stones (one from da hill, one from the shore and one from the suspects land). These stones
  were made red hot and placed under the aishins of the byre (on the wall under the roof). After three days the stones were dropped
  into cold water. If the third stone caused the water to boil their suspicions were confirmed.
  
  
  TROWS
  Haltadans in Fetlar is a cirle of low earth stones with two stones at its centre. All the stones, say local legend are trows - including the central fiddler and his
  wife wi were caught dancing and petrified by the rising sun.
  
  
  Keel Stanes
  Found in some Shetland churchyards, they Were about 5ft long and shaped like the keel of a boat.
  The marked the graves of those who had been drowned
  
  Holes of Scrada (Eshaness)
  They were carved out by the devil as a punishment set to him for wrecking ships on the Vee Skerries
  
  FARMING TRADITIONS
  Ploughing didnt begin until Candlemas (2nd Feb). In Shetland it was considered lucky to have a peerie seed in the grund in early spring. The token sowing was done
  on Bogel Day (17 March) when a tiny peerie plot Was sown with corn, was considered to forcast the success or failure of the entire crop.
  Some Shetlanders never sowed their corn without first putting an egg in the kishie, where it remained till spring. Only folk with the growing hand could sow.
  
  
  GHOSTS
  Wormadale in Whiteness was said to have a ghost of a restless spirit that followed the slaver who built the house.
  
  Whalsay
  The Old Ha of Symbister in Whalsay was said to be haunted by a seaman believed to have been murdered by the gardener, after
  the two had been left to finish a game of cards one night.
  
  North Roe
  Roemill, North Roe, a woman who holds up a bleeding finger and weeps. She had died, but before she had been
  put in her coffin someone had tried to cut of her finger so the wedding ring should not be lost.
  
  
  Quarff/Burra
  The district of Quarff is essentially a valley running across the South mainland, to the west over Cliff Sound is Burra Isle. On this island
  is Papil, is St Lawrence kirkyard. For generations the dead of Quarff were taken by boat to be laid in this graveyard. The practice continued until Quarff got its own graveyard
  in 1829. When the seas were rough this made for an adverturous and dangerous crossing. When returning to quarff from a burial the three men failed to reach the West banks of Quarff? That in the east room of the former fishing booth
  (Bod) on the east shore of Quarff a man was woke from his sleep to see three man coming in through the window. The man was so scared he was speechless. The three men said nothing and after a short they dissappeared in the same way.
  The trio was seen again this time at the west side of a croft known as Swala, Upper Quarff, again the observer didnt speaks and the trio were silent. They were finally seen some miles away at Uradale. The person who saw them broke the silence, they spoke in reply.
  They said they had all been drinking before and after the funeral, on their return when coming back over Cliff Sound an argument broke out and the boat was swamped. They had wondered here until someone spoke to them. Once they
  were addressed they were able to find utterance and to tell how they had so witlessly met their end. Its seems having let someone know to tell their families what did happen to them the ghosts were layed to rest and were never seen again? However there is one
  final twist. The first person to be buried in the Quarff graveyard was a stranger whose body was washed ashore. As the local men left the solitary grave one said in jest that the stranger
  would be lonely lying there all by himself. By strange coincidence he was the next person to be buried, and layed right aside him. Spoooky!
• 

  by Filskit 1 3 years ago

  Tales/Tails Fae Da Fishin
  
  My Dad told me about an old tradition in Unst and possibly
  all over Shetland about Fisherman "coonting dir fish in baans" (in pairs).
  With their backs to the sea the odd one left would be tossed over their shoulder back into the sea.
  
  
  Harriet
  Dad minds aboot Harriet an auld wife that used to bide in Haroldswick, Unst. He said she was a spinster that live
  alone and kept herself to herself, "shu aye wore a black dress and shawl". Surely "dir wis a lock oh fisherman back dan dat widna
  geng t da fishin if Harriet had crossed dir gaet on dir way dere" .
  "Day wir dat feart dat Harriet wid curse dir trip or wharse, an widna go dat day".
  But surely Harriet had a wicked sense of humour and "wid noo and ageen, joost fir
  divilment shu wid cross dir path on purpose cus she kent they widna go if shud walked afore dem"
  
  
  Black Cats
  I wondered why instead of buying the tradional puffin ornament or Viking souveniers the Norwegians and Boaty Folk
  seemed to be snapping up the jet black rubber cats (good band name anyone?). I thought it was some Norwegian craze. I have for sale in my fancy dress shop as Horror Props.
  Then one day another Norwegian came in to buy one and as i was so curious i asked him if it was for a gift, he gave a big smile and said no it was for his boat "as black cat is good omen on board". He said "how great is this one it is
  waterproof, doesnt need feeding or looked after and keeps birds away too. Then off he went to superglue blackpuss to the deck!
  
  
  Ladies Good Luck and Bad Luck
  Most fisherman would say a woman on board was a bad omen, however she did have her uses - and that was pee on the net before they went to the fishing.
  Although this sounds quite strange it was thought that the female pheromones would attract the fish.