GAELIC FESTIVAL

IN EASTERN CANADA WE HAVE MANY GAELIC MODS. THESE ARE HIGHLAND
GATHERINGS WITH BAG PIPES, HIGHLAND DANCING AND COMPETITION THAT
GO BACK TO SCOTLAND. FAMILIES WEAR THEIR OWN TARTAN SKIRTS WHICH
IDENTIFIES THE FAMILY.

Submitter comment: ITEM WAS LEARNED IN NOVA SCOTIA ALTHOUGH COLLECTED IN DETROIT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; BOTSFORD GRADE SCHOOL ; CLARENCEVILLE DISTRICT

James Callow Keyword(s): BAGPIPES

Date learned: 11-00-1982

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Ethnic: Native American

To Pray With the Pipe:

The prayer to use with the Pipe is a pattern of free prayer from the heart. Set and written formulas are not used. I had several old Indians tell me that in the eatrly days the Indian people could not understand why the priest was always reading from a book for in their minds this was insincere and ineffectual. It is quite possible that there was a real cultural conflict that the early missionaries entirely missed. One frequently hears that the Pipe was their Bible and those leading double religious lives say that they live by the Pipe and the Bible. At the end of the Prayer, the Pipe is pointed skyward and earthward as a sign of conclusion. Sometimes the person touches the ground with the Pipe.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: CANADA ; Tekakwitha Conference ; Steinmetz SJ, Paul B ; WINNIPEG

Keyword(s): AMERICAN INDIAN ; BIBLE ; CUSTOM ; ETHNIC ; Native American ; Pipe ; PRAYER ; RELIGION

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Ethnic: Native American

To Fill the Sacred Pipe:

Offer a pinch of tobacco in the four directions starting with any direction that you wish but always moving in a clockwise direction. After each pinch of tobacco is offered it is out into the bowl of the Pipe The starting point varies from man to man according to his individual vision or insight. The usual strating points are the west, north or east. I habe never run across anyone starting in the south. The following is an example of one starting with the west. Offering northward contains a prayer for the strength since this is where te cold winds and the flying snow comes from. Offering tobacco eastward contains a prayer for the light and understanding and southward a plea for new life since it is the source of warm winds and green grass. One does not pray aloud but rather silently. The tobacco is offerd skyward since this reminds us that we are walking in the Prescence of God towards Mother Earth to fill us with graditude for all the gifts we receive through creation. Symbolically one gathers the entire universe into his prayers. For one Indian the west was the place of the setting sun, the north the buffalo, the east the morning star, and the south the white swan.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: CANADA ; Tekakwitha Conference ; Steinmetz SJ, Paul B ; WINNIPEG ; MANITOBA

Keyword(s): AMERICAN INDIAN ; Compass Point ; CUSTOM ; ETHNIC ; Native American ; Pipe ; PRAYER ; RELIGION

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Ethnic: Native American

To Smoke the Pipe:

If the Pipe is smoked it is done at the conclusion of the prayers. The idea is the same as the new liturgical emphasis in the social aspect of Holy Communion. It is done for fostering the sense of community and to express the unity there is between all the people present as well as with all mankind and all creation. The Pipe is lit by the leader, smoked and passed clockwise. Women can kiss th Pipe in stead of smoking it. After one kisses or smokes the Pipe, he says "For the sake of our relatives." Relatives primarily include men but animals as well. As far as Holy Communion is concerned this is probably the closest the Plains Indian symbol there is. The point can be made that the Plains INdians were striving for the same religious values as Catholics do when they receive Holy Communion with a sense of community in mind. When the Pipe has been passed around, it is handed back to the leader who smokes it again, empties the ashes and the ceremony is completed. Although the smoking of the Pipe would be done in restricted circumstances, there are times when it could be most powerful.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: CANADA ; Tekakwitha Conference ; Steinmetz SJ, Paul B ; WINNIPEG ; MANITOBA

Keyword(s): AMERICAN INDIAN ; BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; ETHNIC ; Native American ; Pipe ; PRAYER ; RELIGION ; RELIGIOUS

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Toast

Verse With Drink:

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust,

If you drink good booze, Your pipes won't rust.

Submitter comment:

I heard this as a toast before drinking.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original Title read [Verse Without Music]. Crossed out and replaced with current title.

Original BN [C700; N400; C700] crossed out. Replaced with current classifications.

Keyword(s): Booze ; DRINKING ; Pipes ; Rust ; Social ; TOAST

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Tongue Twister

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
If Peter Piper picked a pack of pickled peppers,
How many pickled peppers did Peter Piper pick?

Submitter comment:

From Childhood

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs Added By TRD

James Callow comment:

Verse?

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Gwizdola, Maureen

Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; Entertainment ; GAME ; Language ; Peppers ; Peter ; Piper ; RHYME ; TONGUE TWISTER ; VERSE

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Tongue Twister

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked; if Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers where is the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs Added By TRD

James Callow comment:

Verse?

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; Seymour, Robert

Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; GAME ; Language ; Peppers ; Peter ; Piper ; RHYME ; TONGUE TWISTER ; VERSE

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