A ceilidh was originally (back in the days of William Wallace) a meeting or gathering and usually included eating, drinking and dancing. Today a Scottish ceilidh is more about the dancing than the celebration and in formal Scottish country dancing circles, it can be a very serious affair. The Scots are very proud of their national dance and so they should be. Scottish Ceilidhs are a great deal of fun and are an excellent way to bring people together.
What about Barn Dances?
Barn dances are similar in terms of the music and dances but there is something so very special about ceilidh dancing. It could be the wonderfully enthusiastic music played by ceilidh bands or the particular dances such as ‘Strip the Willow’ or ‘Dashing White Sergeant’ that compels one to throw all cares to the heavens and immerse the mind, body and soul fully and completely into the joyous moment of dance. For me, the Scots really know how to throw a party and there’s nothing quite like a Scottish ceilidh to celebrate an occasion.
Wedding Ceilidhs
For weddings in Scotland, if you’re wanting something traditional but lots of fun, then you can’t do much better than a ceilidh. A wedding ceilidh usually starts after the reception meal and at approximately 8pm. Enough time to recover from dinner and have enough energy for dancing. The ceilidh band will play a good range of ceilidh music for dances such as Gay Gordons, Strip the Willow, Dashing White Sergeant and Strathspeys, just to name a few.
For those who are unsure of these dances, they are essentially group formations that progress through a set series of movements. Usually rotations and dancers exchange places while moving around the room. It may sound fussy but the organisation of it is what makes it so much fun. Most dancing is often one-to-one. Ceilidh dancing involves the whole group. I challenge anyone to not be smiling at the end of a dance!
Will Ceilidh Bands ‘call’ the dances?
Ceilidh bands vary a great deal in the style of music they play but for dancing most will keep strict time to ensure everyone can keep pace. The band will usually ‘call’ the dances. This is where one member of the band will call out the moves of the dance so the flow of the group keeps its momentum. It’s a great help too for anyone less experienced.
A Scottish ceilidh is one of the most enjoyable experiences you can have and certainly one to remember. How often can you say you’ve had a truly wonderful time with everyone laughing and smiling. Give it a go!
