Customs on the Hearth
By Helen McSkimming

In winter, from Samhain to Bride, the time which the Celtic peoples
called 'the period of the little sun', it becomes easier to see why
fire was such an important element to our ancestors. There were few
daylight hours during the season of cold, frosty weather to work
outdoors and little inclination to do so with storms battering the
land! Instead the family spent their time round the fire which was
the source of their light, heat and warming food. It was also the
gathering point for the bard and seannachaidh who, with the fire of
inspiration, would tell of the high deeds of the people.

In the earliest buildings of our ancestors we find that the fire was
always placed in the center of the home. The homes themselves were,
on the main, circular in form as the excavations of crannogs and
round houses have shown. Even the larger raths or forts which
contained several homes or round houses within had a circular rampart
built around them. The Gaelic Celtic peoples saw the circle as
representing the cycle of life, and the hearth of fire, like the
heart of a person, was considered the center of life and therefore
belonged in the center of the home.

The sacred fire is also strongly associated with Brighid or Bride.
Her name translates as 'fiery arrow' and as the Goddess of poetry it
is she who is the 'flame of inspiration' I mentioned earlier. As
Goddess of healing, She is called upon to give aid during the fire
rite of Beannachadh na Cuairte, or the Blessing of the Circle, in
which the person to be healed is passed through a hoop of fire.
Another term given to her is 'the flame in the heart of all women'.
In later times there was the perpetual fire of Kildare which was
tended by nine maidens and kept alight in honor of St. Bride. In the
Welsh tradition there is also the tale where the fire which heats the
cauldron of the head of Annwfn is kindled by the breath of nine
maidens. These associations between femininity, the cauldron of
nourishment and the sacred fire can also be seen in the daily life of
the people.

The home and the hearth always belonged to the woman of the house and
as such it was her responsibility to ensure that they were well
maintained and a house of any standing had to have at least one
bronze cauldron which was used as the main cooking pot. Within this
we can see reflected the image of the bountiful Earth Mother who is
nourisher and provider to her children.

At one time the women also had either a separate apartment or house
situated in the sunniest area of the homestead known as a Grianan or
sun house. In this we are reminded that the Celtic peoples had
feminine as well as masculine deities of the sun. To them, there
were 'realms of the sun' and 'realms of the moon' in which both the
masculine and feminine principles reside.

Returning once more to the fire of the hearth, because it held such
importance on all levels to our ancestors there were many customs
which had to be observed to ensure the continued blessing of the
flame. For example, it was considered extremely unlucky if the hearth
fire went out at any time, with the exception of the two festival
periods of Samhain and Beltane when the hearth fires were
extinguished and re-kindled from the central festival fire. Each
night the fire was covered over or 'smoored' so that it would
smolder overnight without going out. As it was being smoored a
blessing was given over it. This blessing varied from area to area
but one which proved to be very popular was recorded by Carmichael in
his book 'Carmina Gadelica'. The English translation runs as follows:

The Sacred Three
To Save
To Shield
To Surround
The Hearth
The House
The Household
This Eve
This Night
Oh, this Night
And Every Night
Each Single Night

A similar blessing was given when the fire was opened up each
morning. The old Scots saying: "Lang may your lum reek wi' ither
folks coal" comes from the custom of giving some fuel for the fire
when visiting someone else's house. In some areas this custom is
still recognized by people when they go 'first footing' at New Year.
Although it was considered lucky to give and receive fuel for the
fire it was extremely unlucky to give kindling or light from your own
fire to someone whose fire had gone out. In giving away your kindling
or flame you were also giving away your blessing leaving yourself
unprotected.

Finally, coming back to Bride and her association with fire. During
her festival particular attention was paid to the hearth fire.
Throughout the day it was kept specially fuelled to welcome her
arrival and great care was taken over the smooring of the fire on
that night when a rowan rod was placed in the heart of the fire. The
following morning, before it was opened up, the fire was checked for
the signs of a blessing from Her. If a mark was found there was an
extremely fortunate time ahead for the family.

Copyright: 1992 Helen McSkimming; First published in Dalriada magazine
http://www.dalriada.co.uk/