the www.scottishbanner.com Scottishthethethe North American EditionBanner 37 Years StrongScottish - 1976-2013 BannerA’ Bhratach Albannach ScottishVolumeScottish 36 Number 11 The world’s largest international BannerBanner Scottish newspaper May 2013 40 Years Strong - 1976-2016 www.scottishbanner.com Volume 36 Number 11 The world’s largest international ScottishA’ Bhratach newspaper May 2013 Albannach VolumeVolumeVolume 40 36 36 NumberNumber Number 611 11 The The The world’s world’s world’s largest largest largest international international international Scottish Scottish Scottish newspaper newspaper newspaper December May May 2013 2013 2016 Cairn Gorm and Britain’s only reindeer herd » Pg 14 Australia $3.75; North American $3.00; N.Z. $3.95; U.K. £2.00 A Scottish Christmas ................ » Pg 9 Hogmanay Defending the heritage of St Kilda .................................... » Pg 10 Scott Monument to shine .... » Pg 12 Scotland’s holiday Edinburgh welcomes the world for Hogmanay ................ » Pg 16 » Pg 26 The ScoTTiSh Banner The Banner Says… Scottishthe Volume Banner 40 - Number 6 Volume 36 Number 11 The world’s largest international Scottish newspaper May 2013 Editor & Publisher Valerie Cairney Looking into the past this Christmas Australian Editor Sean Cairney would come your way for a better inside it wasn’t much better. Before life. So immigration came from leaving their homeland, they had EDITORIAL StaFF the ‘old countries’. They boarded heard that the temperature where Jim Stoddart Ron Dempsey, FSA Scot The National Piping Centre David McVey ships promising to take them they were moving to was cold. Angus Whitson Lady Fiona MacGregor across the ocean to a new world, But how does somebody from Marieke McBean Dr Ken B Moody one which was away from their Edinburgh compare ‘cold’ when Judy Vickers Nick Drainey old lives, their friends and family. faced with 40 below? OFFICES OF PUBLIcatION Yet their hearts were full of hope, They could never have imagined Australasian Office: USA Office: and the glimmer in their eyes a snow storm being so severe that PO Box 6202 PO Box 6880 betrayed the excitement which Marrickville South, NSW, 2204 Hudson, FL 34674 people were actually lost, and Tel:(02) 9559-6348 Tel:(866) 544-5157 lay beneath. They never gave a even died - while being only five Fax:(02) 8079-6671 Fax:+ 1 727-826-0191 thought for a possible downside to feet from their home. It was the [email protected] [email protected] by Valerie Cairney this adventure. loneliness that finally took the lives Canadian Office: and happiness away from so many. PO Box 724 t seems hard to believe that the Life used to be much harder Women, many of whom had lived Niagara Falls, ON, L2E 6V5 most exciting time of year is And so they arrived on these new Tel:(866) 544-5157 in cities surrounded by family and just around the corner, and as shores. They had precious little Fax: + 1 727-826-0191 friends, could no longer take the [email protected] most of us are aware - that, of money, but they had far more to give www.scottishbanner.com Icourse, is Christmas. This special long cold days and nights. Some than youth. They had strength and of them finally eventually gave up Printed monthly in Australia, Canada and the USA. ISSN 0707-073X season with its magical atmosphere hopes as bright as diamonds. What and returned home -either with or Australia Post Print Approved PP:100004806 has an excitement which, while only more might be needed for a new life Canada Post Publications Mail Agreement No.40022115 without their husbands. coming once a year, with shops full in this virgin land? They were people Published monthly by Scottish Banner Publications of colourful lights and festive music PO Box 6880 Hudson, FL 34674 USA - just like you and I. They lived, loved, The strong survived and busy shoppers overwhelmed USA-Periodical Postage Paid at Sarasota, FL 34231 laughed and cried the way we do, The men, stayed strong, yet were and additional Entry Offices (USPS 9101) while busily wondering about (although they may have cried a little buckled by the weight of work U.S. Postmaster send corrections to: Christmas giving. Although this time more, sometimes). They had heard PO Box 6880 Hudson, FL 34674 and infinitely saddened at seeing of year comes with its’ own magical that in this new (and foreign) world The publisher reserves the right to reject, discontinue or omit any advertisement or to their melancholy wives miss their cancel any advertising contract for reasons satisfactory to the publisher, without notice, atmosphere, it also comes with its’ which lay so far away from their and without penalty to either party. All advertising and reading matter is subject to homes and families so badly, often Publisher’s approval. Right reserved to revise or reject advertising and reading material problems. What to buy for the big home land, were wonderful countries in accordance with standards acceptable to the Scottish Banner, without notice. The gave up too. A silent figure hanging advertiser agrees that the publisher shall not be liable for damages arising out of errors day? This is followed closely by a with so much to offer. from the rafters of a barn was not in advertising beyond the amount of space paid for, whether such errors are due to second question - which is - how Once there you could go to the negligence, copy right or otherwise. The publisher does not endorse the historical an unfamiliar sight in those days. accuracy of the editorial stance of materials submitted for publication. The publisher much should I spend? Land Register people, and for $10.00 reserves the right edit all submitted material prior to publication. Yet they survived, and with God’s Very few seem to stay within their buy up to 160 acres of your very The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author(s)and help and their own strong right do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. budgets during this season. Hearts own land. The soil was fertile and arm they slowly harnessed the land Trouble getting the Scottish Banner each month? Use the are often bigger than budgets and once the land was cleared of trees, subscription form below to subscribe, or you may contact they had now slowly grown to love. our distributors for your nearest sales outlet. the bills of January seem a long way it could yield a very good harvest. Spring finally returned, weddings AUSTRALIA: Integrated Publication Solutions 1 800 606 407 off in these busy pre-Christmas A homestead could then be built, took place, babies were born, and CANADA: Disticor-1 905 619 6565 shopping days! Perhaps this applies animals would graze, and the NEW ZEALAND: Gordon & Gotch: 09 979 3018 life began anew. They are gone now USA: 866 544 5157 more so this year with the economic children would grow in freedom. leaving us to walk in their footsteps The Scottish Banner-Uniting Scots Around the World for 40 Years! crunch many are experiencing today And so they came to conquer. and harvest from the furrows they which of course is guided by our Forests, which had once known only ploughed. THE SCOTTISH BANNER financial status. the sound of birds, and the creaking Subscribe to the worlds largest international Doom and gloom of tall pines in the wind, suddenly Happy Christmas Scottish culture newspaper online or use below: came alive with the voices of men, Each time we pick up a paper or As we give thanks this Christmas, and the sharp crack of axes on Australia: 1 Year / $45.00 AUD 2 Year / $85.00 AUD listen to a newscast, there are more let us remember those from who timber. The days were long and the tales of gloom and doom. Sales are we came. Without them we would New Zealand: 1 Year / $60.00 AUD 2 Year / $99.00 AUD work was gruelling - yet it was a time down, jobs are becoming redundant, not be so rich today. These are the U.S.A.: 1 Year / $36.00 USD 2 Year / $68.00 USD of excitement. These immigrants and world economies are falling. stock from which we came! The Canada: 1 Year / $40.00 CDN 2 Year / $76.00 CDN were shaping their new lives in a The financial mood of the world daily news sometimes looks bleak, Overseas: 1 Year Air Mail: US/CDN $70.00, AU $ 75.00 new country. today is not doing very well at the yet it has been worse before, and it will turn again. Australia/New Zealand: T (+61) 02 9559-6348 present time unfortunately. Yet New countries were not North America: T + 1 866 544-5157 during these tough times, we tend tamed easily All of us from the Banner wish our www.scottishbanner.com to forget just how good we really do But these new countries, which extended family throughout North Subscription are non-refundable. have it! Certainly we have taken a were predominantly, Canada, America, Australia, New Zealand, Cheques, money orders, Visa and MasterCard accepted. step back financially during the past Australia, America, New Zealand, and Britain a happy and healthy Christmas season. Merry Christmas Scottish Banner Australia/New Zealand: year, yet still our homes are warm and others, were sometimes like wild PO Box 6202, Marrickville South, NSW, 2204 and safe this winter, our refrigerators animals. They could not be tamed and Happy Hogmanay to all! Scottish Banner Canada: are full and (by and large), we live in easily and many new difficulties If you have a story from your PO Box 724, Niagara Falls, Ontario, L2E 6V5 peaceful times.