Just a single long article this week, I’m sure folk will enjoy this.
Published by a regular Cellardyke Correspondent Mrs Rowland
5th January 1931 Dundee Evening Telegraph
Etiquette that is strictly observed by the ‘Children of the Sea’
Cellardyke, that picturesque, Dutch looking fishing town, with its red roofs and quaint name, forms part of the Burgh of Kilrenny, the most easterly of those triple Royal Burghs, known since their amalgamation by the official title of Anstruther.
Anstruther Easter, Commonly called in the East Neuk of Fife ‘Anster’ has been for many years recognised as the business centre of the three towns.
The Ancient Burgh of West Anstruther is now a fashionable summer resort, while the populous and prosperous Cellardyke is the home of the skippers and crews of the Steam drifters now berthed in the Union Harbour of ‘Anster’.
The fisherman’s financial year closes after the return of the boats from the ‘sooth fishin’; the first week of December sees the drifters safe in their home harbours.
Before the of the month comes the reckoning up of profits and losses, and the ‘pairtin oot’ or apportioning to each crew member of the boats crew his share of the balance left after all expenses are paid.
A successful Yarmouth fishing means a busy wedding season in the fishing towns, the new year being the recognised time for setting sail on ‘ the sea of matrimony’
In the short period preceding Hogmanay, the prospective bride and groom will be busily engaged in getting their future home into ‘ship shape’ order. The forth coming ‘launch’ will be the subject of many comments and much criticism, but none can truthfully predict which of the bridal pair will eventually become ’skipper’
The Dyker Lass is but a bairn in cradle when the first of her ‘providin’ is laid in her kist by her shrewd and thrifty mother. ‘She’ll hae a hoose o’ her ain someday, even though she disna get a man,’ is the explanation given for this early buying of the trousseau.
Thus it happens that our fisher lassies are amply provided with all the household necessities in the shape of sheets, table cloths and towels. They are all possessed of a miscellaneous collection of useful articles presented by friends or gathered themselves during girlhood’s years.
‘The hoose is taen’ shortly before the close of the Yarmouth fishing, and just after her groom’s return, the bride ‘gies up her job’ at the oilskin factory in which she is engaged.
Although she always attempts to slip away quietly and unnoticed by her workmates, all her attempts are usually frustrated. Several pairs of keen eyes are on the watch, and willing hands are ready to pounce upon the escaping bride.
However unwilling the ’victim’ may be, she gives in with the best grace possible, and submits to the ordeal of being ‘ hurled hame’ knowing that the less fuss she makes the more easily she will, be let off.
The substantial works ‘barry’ or hand cart is ready at the ‘big gate’ and the bride, draped in a white lace window curtain, ‘loaned for the occasion,’ in lieu of a bridal veil, is led forth by her attendants, her assembled chums meanwhile showering her with confetti.
The bride assisted to her ‘chariot’ and tied down, while hefty lases apply themselves to the shafts; others harness themselves with ropes to the ‘turn oot’.
A procession is formed, the leader bearing a placard proclaiming ‘Here comes the Bride’ .
With cheers and merry laughter, the happy crowd proceed through the streets to the bride’s home. Nor does distance daunt, for they have been known to ‘hurl a bride hame’ to Pittenweem a distance of fully two miles from Cellardyke.
A delicate situation
In Cellardyke we have our own special and rigidly observed forms of wedding etiquette. With us, the bridegroom’s mother bears all the responsibility of furnishing and setting in order the house for the reception of the youthful pair.
The situation is oft times delicate and even critical, and requires both tact and forbearance on the part of the mother in law and bride to be, in order to steer the bridal barque past the treacherous rocks of discord into the peaceful haven of harmony.
The future home must first of all be freshly papered and painted in readiness for its furniture. The mother in law may invite the bride to be to ‘pick her paper’, that is choose her wallpaper, or she may not.
The prospective wife may also be allowed ‘some say’ in the selection of the furniture. In most cases she is permitted to make her own choice, but only by courtesy of ‘the man’s mither’
The only article of furniture which the happy pair usually purchase together is the ‘nock’ or large wall clock, without which the furnishing of a fisherman’s home is not complete.
The bride’s contributions towards her future abode are the contents of a large and well filled kist, and, of course, her own marriage presents, one of which may consist of a set of ‘cheeny’ from the best maid.
She also ‘fills the bed’ that is, provides blankets, sheets and all necessary bedding.
About a week beiore the wedding, a visit is paid to the fashionable shops of one of our large cities, in order to purchase the bridal array.
The bride, who is accompanied by the bridegroom’s mother, is here allowed to exercise her own taste. But her expenditure is limited by the length of the bridegroom’s purse, for he, through the medium of his mother, pays all expenses connected with the house furnishing, as well as with his bride’s outer adornment for that ‘day of days’.
The bridal outfit usually consists of a dress, coat, hat, gloves, stockings and shoes. In these modern times, however, our bonny brides may prefer a conventional wedding gown and veil, and her wishes are strictly carried out, for ‘braw waddins’ are the rule, not the exception in Cellardyke.
Friday evening is invariably wedding night in ‘oor toon’ and on the previous Sunday the banns are proclaimed in the Parish Church of Kilrenny.
On the Friday evening, just after the engaged couple have left the bride’s house in order to ‘pit in the cries’ the youngest member of the crew of the bridegroom’s boat arrives at the home of the bride’s parents.
The visitor is given ‘the bride’s piece’ and a dram, twelve shillings and sixpence to buy and bottle of ‘whusky’ and the specially prepared ‘marriage flag’ consisting of vertical stripes of red, white and blue cloth.
Down to the boat goes the youth, and in the darkness of the evening, hoists the marriage flag – red stripe next the pole – to the top of the mizzen mast.
There it flies and the ‘youngest o’ the crew’ must see that it is kept flying until after the marriage ceremony, when it is quietly hauled down and later presented as a keepsake to the newly wedded wife.
Lucky the wedded couple whose marriage flag ‘blaws in a breeze o’ wind’ the more boisterous the breeze, the stronger the luck. Happy the bride, the blue of whose flag is ‘blown awa’ but happiest of all the married pair whose wedding flag ‘blaws clean awa a’ th’gither’.
The hoose fillin
The ‘hoose fillin’ takes place on the night before that appointed for the ceremony. The furniture which has arrived sometime during the week is now arranged by friends of the bride and bridegroom. Curtains are put up, pictures hung, and everything set in readiness for the homecoming of the newly wedded paitr.
At this function the bridegroom’s mother, as usual, is mistress of ceremonies, and all arranging is done under her superintendence. It is she ‘who makes the beds’ while the ‘best maid’ arranges the bride’s china in the cupboards.
It is not etiquette for the bride to be present at ‘her ain hoose fillin’. The bridegroom may look in for a little while to express his opinions regarding placing of various articles or to ‘gie a haund wi’ the furniture, but on the first sign of ‘bed makin’ he retires, otherwise he might be caught and tossed in the blankets by his mischief loving chums.
With jokes and laughter the hoose fillin proceeds merry apace. Light refreshments are served and songs are sung. The fun being kept up until the early hours of the morning.
The marriage ceremony may be performed at the manse or in the town hall. Seldom are church weddings held in Cellardyke.
Before leaving her parent’s home, the bride stands in state for a while friends and neighbours flock in to ‘see her dressed’ in her bridal array, to express her admiration and to give final congratulations and words of cheer.
The coming of the bride’s car is the signal for the bairns to gather round in anxious anticipation of the shower of ‘bawbees’ which is invariably rained on them.
After the marriage ceremony, the bride and bridegroom proceed at once to their own house.
There the bridegroom’s mother is in readiness with a huge cake of shortbread, which is broken by her over the head of the newly wedded wife as she crosses the threshold of her own home. The falling fragments of cake are immediately pounced upon by
The waiting crowd of bystanders, and are supposed to bring plenteous good luck to the recipients.
A poker is afterwards presented to the young wife with the injunction to ‘redd her ribs’ that is clear away the ashes from the bars of the grate.
After a brief interval in their own home, the young couple proceed to the hall to ‘cut the cake’ and receive the congratulation s of their friends. The handsome wedding cake is provided by the parents of the bride, but the marriage supper is supplied by the bridegroom.
The supper table, which is spread with a variety of substantial viands, is now surrounded by a jolly crowd, who have evidently not forgotten their appetites, but show hearty appreciation of the feast.
Nor are those friends who are unable to be present forgotten. ‘Suppers’ consisting of heaped up plates of beef steak pie and other dainties, are carried to absent ones by willing helpers. Many a lonely old body in Cellardyke has been cheered by a share of wedding supper.
A dance follows the supper, the festivities being carried on until ‘the sma ‘oors o the mornin’ Long before the merriment is over the happy pair for whom there is no honeymoon have ‘slippit cannily awa’ hame’
Sunday sees the ‘kirkin o the bride’. Bride and bride groom, best man and best maid, together attend public worship in time honoured fashion of their ancestors.
In the quaint old town of Cellardyke the fisher las weds a fisher lass; who but she can mend the nets and tend the gear.
Our lads in the fishing seasons visit many towns and districts far from the shores of the Forth; thus we have bonny lasses from Lerwick and Lossie, and fair maids from ‘Heymouth’ (Eyemouth) happily wed in Cellardyke.
We are a friendly, sociable folk, we fishers o’ the East Neuk o’ Fife, so whether the brides are ‘Norlanders’ or ‘frae the sooth countree’ we give them all a hearty welcome, for are they not, as we are ‘Children of the sea’?