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December 29th is the feast day of minor Scottish saint, Onan, who, despite his name, isn't the patron saint of anything in particular... #OldWeirdScotland

🗓️ 28th December is the anniversary of the Tay Bridge Disaster, a tragedy which overshadows another on the same day 27 years later. In 1906 a wintry tragedy at Elliot Junction caused 22 deaths and 24 injuries when safety and control broke down in a blizzard 🚂🚃 threadinburgh.scot/2022/12/28/t...

Today is the 75th anniversary of "OPERATION HAGGIS" On 28th December 1950, the RAAF flew 585km from Iwakuni, Japan to Suwon-si, South Korea with 180lbs (80kg) of haggis so the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders could have a "proper Hogmanay" in the first year of the Korean War. #OldWeirdScotland

In 1599, Elgin Kirk Session were *very clear* re: Xmas No snowballs No carols or other singing No guising (fancy dress) No crossdressing No bagpipes or fiddles No dancing No football in the streets No ropeswings No groups of women haunting the churchyard No "umcomelie speeches" #OldWeirdScotland

Christmas advice for ladies courtesy of the Dundee Courier (1930-1934) #OldWeirdScotland

In his first hundred years of business in Scotland, Santa Claus delivered to children on Hogmanay (31st Dec), not Christmas Eve. By the 1960s, he had fully synchronised his visits and Scotland ran on the same timetable as the US and England. #OldWeirdScotland

YULESHARD n. a person woefully unprepared for Christmas #OldWeirdScotland #Scots

Just seen the Paisley xenomorph popping up for Hallowe'en, so here's a reminder that it is not the only nightmare fodder on that building.

#OTD 139 years ago: Dundonians lined the banks of the Tay to watch young Inuit man, Urio Etwango, demonstrate hunting techniques from his kayak (wooden crates serving as seals). Usually, I'd share my article on him, but this week Greenland historian, Kenn Harper, has more properly told the story:

#OTD 218 years ago: A Glenmoriston woman awoke to find a young Bengal tiger in her house. It leapt 16ft across the room at her before being chased outside. It had escaped from a menagerie at Brahan Castle, some 40 miles away. It was reported "to have done considerable mischief" #OldWeirdScotland

Whither Halloween? Nobody takes the time to carve lanterns out of neeps nowadays, and nobody takes the time to scrape out a sheepskin and skull for their costume. Sigh. #OldWeirdScotland South Uist guisers, 1932 (📷Margaret Fay Shaw)

I say this every year, but Halloween costumes were scarier in the #OldWeirdScotland, but here's some genuinely terrifying shit from Drumlithie Draughts Club kids... Mearns Leader and Kincardineshire Mail, 1936

Half a house missing, you say? #OldWeirdScotland

"Ay, this year we're takin the weans ower the Iron Curtain for the Fair" Print Ad, Scots Magazine, July 1981 #OldWeirdScotland

It's "help an undergraduate research project time"! Siân is researching how well Scottish people and Scots speakers are understood. Listen to some audio clips and see how well you fare. Took me less than 10mins and it was very fun! forms.gle/wUJBQquieSt2... #OldWeirdScotland

It's "help an undergraduate research project time"! Siân is researching how well Scottish people and Scots speakers are understood. Listen to some audio clips and see how well you fare. Took me less than 10mins and it was very fun! forms.gle/wUJBQquieSt2... #OldWeirdScotland

I love little local history booklets. They're full of small and often weird stories that deserve to be better known. They're also full of small and weird illustrations that *definitely* need to be shared: An occasional 🧵

Dating to before 1684, The motto on the arms of the Royal Burgh of Inveraray, Semper Tibi Pendeat Halec, is thought to have originally meant "may the fish sauce always be ready for you". #OldWeirdScotland

The 1970s really were the golden age of souvenirs from Scotland. For the equivalent of £11.99, you can fill your house and nose with sweet peaty nostalgia! #OldWeirdScotland

On Good Friday 1882, 147 people in Inverness became severely ill after eating hot cross buns. While not fatal, they all experienced vomiting, tremors, and a dry throat. An unidentified alkaloid poison was found in the spice mix. The case was never solved. #OldWeirdScotland

In the village of Swinton in the Scottish Borders, the local football pitch has a stone mercat cross for a centre circle. Known as the "12th Man of Swinton", the cross was used to the home team's advantage during league matches. #OldWeirdScotland

A confession because I was reminded of it today: Until my mid-20s, I had it in my head that a Papal bull was an actual live 🐂 with a note attached to it. "Well you know it's a big deal when the Pope sends you one of those cows all the way from Rome/Avignon" Just never questioned it.

On this day in 1921, a large crowd watched the launch of a great, white ship in Leith. The largest sailing vessel ever completed in the UK, this 5-master was the "København". 8 years later she disappeared without trace and has never been seen nor heard from again 🔭 threadinburgh.scot/2023/01/21/t...

By the age of 1, Siamese cat, "Jane Austen" had climbed 16 peaks (inc. 11 Munros) with her owner Fiona M. Wilkie. Jane was harnessed on a 12ft lead and took naps in Fiona's rucksack. #OldWeirdScotland #WeirdCatScotland

A parrot that comes with a warranty Fife Free Press, 30 April 1904 #OldWeirdScotland

FLINGING THE SOAM romantic divination using the soam (swimbladder) of a herring A young person can forecast luck in love by throwing the bladder at a wall. If it sticks, they'll find love. If it falls to the floor, then they'll be single all their days. A belated Valentine! #OldWeirdScotland

Answers & results of #OldWeirdScotland FASHION GOLF Round 2: Tweed Probably a little difficult but some people did well! This time "par" for the course was 31 years 21 folk took part across 4 platforms. No podium finishes for blueskyers this time Thanks all who took part FASHION GOLF will return

Let's play #OldWeirdScotland FASHION GOLF Round 2: Lost Amongst the Tweeds! Four pics of 20th C Scottish women wearing the fashion of the day. Reply with your guess for the year of each outfit. For each year off, you gain a "stroke". Lowest combined score wins. Entries open until 8pm Weds GMT.

Let's play #OldWeirdScotland FASHION GOLF Round 2: Lost Amongst the Tweeds! Four pics of 20th C Scottish women wearing the fashion of the day. Reply with your guess for the year of each outfit. For each year off, you gain a "stroke". Lowest combined score wins. Entries open until 8pm Weds GMT.

In 1840s Fife, a deserted spouse could have their marriage annulled if they set a place at the dinner table and shouted out the door for the absent spouse to come eat. After a year plus one day, they were free to marry again. #OldWeirdScotland

Newtonmore are famous for their shinty skill. #OTD in January 1890, their defence had so little to do no one thought much of 25yo Ewen Cattanach lying down on the field. Only after 30mins play did the ball come down field and it was clear Ewen was dead (heart attack). #OldWeirdScotland

Behold, he cometh with tines; and every eye shall see him, they also which pierced (but also scooped) with him. Edinburgh Spork Company ad, 1935

In one of his first recorded deliveries in Scotland (Hogmanay 1851), Santa Claus visited a family in John O'Groats. In one lad's stocking Santa delivered a stick (from a tree) as he was "an unruly little chap". The boy was overjoyed. #OldWeirdScotland

In his first hundred years of business in Scotland, Santa Claus delivered to children on Hogmanay (31st Dec), not Christmas Eve. By the 1960s, he had fully synchronised his visits and Scotland ran on the same timetable as the US and England. #OldWeirdScotland

#OTD in 1930 Mrs Simpson, of Dundee (right), winner of the Arbroath Cat Show. There's always one that doesn't look at the camera lens, eh? #OldWeirdScotland

Christmas advice for ladies courtesy of the Dundee Courier (1930-1934) #OldWeirdScotland

YULESHARD n. a person woefully unprepared for Christmas #OldWeirdScotland #Scots

#OTD in 1886. An Inuit man arrived in Dundee and spent the winter of 1886 as the city's great celebrity. Read about Urio Etwango, an Inuit man in Victorian Dundee that speared "seals" from a kayak in the Tay. https://oldweirdscotland.com/urio-etwango-an-inuk-in-dundee/

11th October 1626: parties after baptisms had gotten so out of hand that Aberdeen made it illegal to "compell any nichtboures to drink any wyn, aill, or beir" that they didn't want to. Anyone caught pressuring someone to drink was fined £40 #OldWeirdScotland #DrinkAwareScotland

Tomorrow is #PieMonday. Tradition dictates that on the Monday before the 2nd Thursday in October, Musselburghers (and by extension, the world), must eat a hot mutton pie. Doesn't have to be mutton, but do your bit to revive a Scottish food-based festival day. #OldWeirdScotland

An #OldWeirdScotland story in the news: https://www.ross-shirejournal.co.uk/news/which-wester-ross-island-was-auctioned-for-just-50-in-1958-327826/

To return milk to a cow that had gone dry, a woman in 1740s Perthshire could visit every home in the village with an eggshell filled with milk hidden between her breasts. Margaret MacIntaggart, 15, was caught doing this charm by a neighbour in Kenmore in 1747 #OldWeirdScotland

Is your Scotch not "Scotch" enough? Do you worry what a NAKED bottle of whisky says about you? Try our NEW TARTAN TIPPLE PIPES and keep your single malt festive, fun, and discreet (and on its side). #OldWeirdScotland #TartanTatAttack

In July 1919 tabby kitten, Wopsie, became the first cat to fly across the Atlantic and the first to complete a transatlantic round trip by air. Airship R34 flew from East Lothian to Long Island, NY in 108hrs. #OldWeirdScotland

"TAE CUT A WHANG FRAE A NEW CHEESE" to take someone's virginity (18th c. Scots) #OldWeirdScotland

In June 1947, George Orwell and his family almost drowned in the Corryvreckan whirlpool between Jura and Scarba. On this day (23th Aug 1981), his brother-in-law, Bill Dunn (61) became the first person to swim across the whirlpool. Dunn lost his right leg at the hip in WW2. #oldweirdscotland

In October 1958, many of the Summer Isles were auctioned in Edinburgh. Barrabel Mason (12), her siblings Fiona and Donald, and cousin Phillip, pooled their pocket money and bid on Sgeirean Glasa ("grey skerries"). Won for £50, it had excellent rockpooling. #OldWeirdScotland

On 17th August 1865, a freak rainstorm covered about 3 acres of Maxwelltown, Dumfries in froglets. A fortnight before, the tracks at Lanark Railway Station were covered in tadpoles after 5 minutes of rain. #OldWeirdScotland #OTD

Six sleeps til #burryman #OldWeirdScotland