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The Scottish Nebraskan Newsletter of the Prairie Scots

Chief’s Message Summer 2021 Issue I am delighted that summer is upon us finally! For a while there I thought winter was making a comeback. I hope this finds you all well and excited to get back to a more normal lifestyle. We are excited as we will finally get to meet in person for our Annual Meeting and Gathering of the in August and hope you all make an effort to come. We haven't seen you all in over a year and a half and we are looking forward to your smiling faces and a chance to talk with all of you. Covid-19 has been rough on all of us; it has been a horrible year plus. But the officers of the Society have been meeting on a regular basis trying hard to keep the Society going. Now it is your turn to come and get involved once again. After all, a Society is not a society if we don't gather! Make sure to mark your calendar for August 7th, put on your best and we will see you then. As Aye, Helen Jacobsen Gathering of the Clans :an occasion when a large group of family or friends meet, especially to enjoy themselves e.g., . See page 5 for info about our Annual Meeting & Gathering of the Clans See page 15 for a listing of some nearby Gatherings

Click here for Billy Raymond’s song “The Gathering of the Clans”

To remove your name from our mailing list, The Scottish Society of Nebraska please reply with “UNSUBSCRIBE” in the subject line. P O Box 541141

Questions or comments? Omaha, NE 68154 Email Morgan Wise at [email protected]

A Taste of the United Kingdom Table of Contents is Now in Omaha!

Member Spotlight 3 Announcements 4-5 Photographs: 6 –9 Scottish Society of Nebraska Gathering of our Member Clans Histories:

History of the Clan 10-13 Mon - Sat: 10am - 6pm Book Review: 14 Sun: 11am - 5pm

Scotland Bound, Charlie Brown Nebraska's only British Market & Article: Bakery offering food & beverages both Scottish Gatherings this Summer 15 hot & cold following traditional British recipes with imported ingredients Article: from is now open. Top 10 Facts About Gowff in Whether it be pies, pasties, butties, 16-18 jam tarts, the "99" (England's oldest ice cream) or even Harry Potter's Poetry Butterbeer from Hogsmeade... there's Two Summer Poems by something for everyone!

Robert Louis Stevenson 19 The market includes over 350 British imported foods & gifts for all Recipe Corner 20 occasions including all your favorites Eton Mess—A Scottish Fruit Dessert from Cadburys to Walkers.

Visit their webpage to see all the offered goodies!

www.chippysomaha.com 2718 S 123rd Ct. Omaha, NE 68144

2 Member Spotlight

We are Craig and Sheryl Walker. We have been members of the NE Scottish Society for about 3 years. We have lived in Omaha since 1991. Craig is from Omaha and has lived here most of his life. Sheryl is from Minnesota, but her father being in the military led to frequent family moves. We met at Creighton University, Craig was studying Pre-Med and Sheryl was studying Nursing. We have been married 38 years. We have three children and four grandchildren. Craig is a radiologist at Nebraska Medicine. Sheryl has taken the past year off to homeschool three of our grandchildren because of the COVID disruptions. We both enjoy traveling, fly-fishing, playing board or card games, and spending time with family and friends. A few years ago, we began studying our families’ genealogies. Both of our families have ties to Scotland. Craig’s family were Scots who had lived in Fivemiletown, Tyrone, having come from , , Scotland. Sheryl’s ancestors were Norman Norse who moved to England, Scotland, Ireland and . We have been to Scotland three times and look forward to returning. Our joining the Scottish Society has enabled us to enjoy a wee bit of Scotland while here in Omaha. We look forward to the Scottish Society being able to meet in- person again.

NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS

Do you have something to share in The Scottish Nebraskan? Articles/Scottish Poetry/Art/Recipes/Book Reviews/Recent—Upcoming Events

Send them to [email protected] by 8/31/21 3 Announcements

Happy Father’s Day

2022 Membership Drive begins in August Our Membership Drive kicks off on August 7th for the 2022 membership year. All members (new and renewing should complete the membership form so we have your most recent information. Membership Dues: $40—Family Membership $30—Individual Membership Scotland Magazine: Scotland magazine (formerly The Highlander) subscription is $16 per year (note price increase). Brand new members of the Society receive a complimentary 1-year subscription. The membership form can be found online at: www.TheScottishSocietyOfNebraska.org Pay online or print the form and mail to: Post Office Box 541141, Omaha, NE, 68154 4 Announcements

Members, Friends and Families of The Scottish Society of Nebraska

2021 Gathering of the Clans & Annual Membership Meeting

DATE: Saturday, 7 August 2021 TIME: BBQ Potluck Picnic* begins at 12 Noon PLACE: Presbyterian Church of the Master 10710 Corby Circle, Omaha

*Grilled meat, condiments, buns, dinner ware and drinks will be provided by the Society; families attending are asked to bring a side dish, salad, or dessert to share.

Masks Recommended and its always a good idea to bring lawn chairs

Dear Amercians, Happy Good Job! Independence And have a good “We Beat the English” Day Day! Love, Scotland 5 Scottish Society of Nebraska Gathering of our Member Clans

Clan Anderson Clan Cumming Clan

Clan Bell Clan Dalziel Clan Drummond

Clan Blair Clan Clan Elliot

Clan Broun (Brown) (Clan Robertson) Continued on Page 7 6 Society Clans, Continued from Page 6

Clan Fraser Clan MacAlister

Clan Glen Clan MacBean

Clan Clan Kerr Clan MacDonald

Clan Grant Clan Lamont Clan MacFarlane

"For that is the mark of the Scot of all classes . . . there burns alive in him a sense of identity with the dead, even to the twentieth generation." ~ Robert Louis Stevenson

Continued on Page 8 7 Society Clans, Continued from Page 7

Clan MacGregor Clan MacLeod Clan Murray

Clan MacInnes Clan MacMillan Clan MacThomas Clan Nesbitt

Clan MacKay Clan Peter

Clan MacLennan Clan MacQueen

Nowhere beats the heart so kindly as beneath the tartan plaid! ~ William Edmonstoune Aytoun Continued on Page 9 8 Society Clans, Continued from Page 8

Clan Scott Clan

Clan Sinclair Clan Stuart of Bute

Clan Spens Clan

Clan Stewart Clan Taylor Scotland For Ever

Alba gu bràth 9 Clan Histories History of the Clan It is the fundamental urge of all living creatures to reproduce, to seek protection in the safety of numbers and to seek order through some form of social harmony. As human beings differ little from this, all over the world from the beginning of recorded time societies have existed, which have bound its population together in such a way. Whereas many Empires have been formed, flourished, and died out at the hand or in the name of imperialism and dictatorship one system has remained. It is as strong today as it ever was, binding together millions across the globe, not with religious dogma but with the spirit and belonging of an extended family. One that is both socialist in principle and patriarchal in structure – the system.

What is a Clan? The word ‘clan’ derives from the Gaelic word ‘clann’ or ‘clanna’ for children, and describes a close-knit group of relatives. However, you didn’t need to be related to the clan chief to be considered a part of the clan. Anyone who pledged their allegiance to the chief could use the clan name as their own, and this included those who worked for the clan or needed protection. When came into use in the 16th and 17th centuries, many took their clan leader’s name as their own. Clans were generally associated with a geographical area of Scotland, for example, the Armstrong Clan originated in the Borders, the MacGregors in , and ruled the roost across much of the . Clans often had ancestral castles too, such as Clan Murray’s Duffus Castle in Blair . Today, Scottish clans are celebrated across the world, with many descendants making the pilgrimage to Scotland to discover their roots and ancestral home. Clans names, and crests are recorded by Lord Lyon for official recognition. Continued on Page 11 10 Clan Histories, Continued from Page 10

How Did Clans Originate? It is quite possible however that the origins of the clan system outdate even the name itself. When the Romans eventually left Britain to its own devices Scotland was populated by five distinct races: North of the Forth and Clyde and occupying what is considered the Highlands were the . A mysterious people of which very little is known today. Settled in were the Britons who had spread from England along with the Saxons who occupied the southeast. The Attacotti were in and Argyll, during the 6th century the Kingdom of Dalriada was established, from here came the Scots or Scoti, the eventual inheritors of the nation. The arrival of St. in 563 brought more than simple (St. had already established a monastery in Galloway). St. Columba was a powerful and influential missionary whose work not only extinguished the druidic culture of the Picts but began the process which led to the eventual unification of Scotland. The coronation of Kenneth MacAlpine in 843 heralded a new age for Scotland. The court was moved from Dunstaffinage in the west to the comparative safety of Scone in . Security was indeed an important issue, Scotland had already suffered for over 50 years from constant Norse invasions, monasteries had been destroyed and the country sustained attacks from all sides. & Sutherland, The Western Isles and parts of were all in Norse hands; Scotland would have to wait nearly 500 years before regaining total control of its lands. When Malcolm Ceanmore became King in 1058 after killing MacBeth, a recognizable Clan system began to emerge. Malcolm was an aggressive man (the name ‘Ceanmore’ can be translated as ‘Big Head’) and a committed Anglophile. His marriage to Margaret, granddaughter to Edmund King of England brought many changes to the Scottish Court (which had now moved to Dunfermline). Questions of the ancient rights of succession were to the fore and there was conflict between the existing system of Celtic Tanistry and the English Feudal system. Malcolm was persuaded by the Queen to adopt the latter, Gaelic was abolished in favor of English as the language of the court and Roman Catholicism was the practiced religion.

Continued on Page 12 11 Clan Histories, Continued from Page 11

As well as kinship and a sense of identity and belonging, being part of a clan was an important part of survival throughout the troubled centuries that would follow. The constant battle for land and resources, like livestock, between clans was often ferocious. Add to this Norse invasions, English attacks, and the Jacobite uprisings, and it was no surprise that Scotland’s people sought safety in numbers. Winds of Change Many pinpoint the bloody in 1746 as the moment where everything changed for Scotland’s clan system, as King George’s troops crushed the Jacobite rebellion. In what today might be considered ethnic cleansing, the ruling King of England ordered all of the Jacobite cause be slaughtered, including many of the clans that populated the Scottish Highlands.

The defeat at Culloden meant that Scotland was once again under the control of the English. It was clear that Scotland and the Jacobite cause were inextricably linked. Any symbol of Scottish culture was a symbol of Jacobite defiance and this had to be eradicated. Clan culture was never to be the same again with so many clansmen lost on the battlefield, and once the Act of Proscription was put in place in 1746 the playing of , clan tartans and speaking Gaelic were all outlawed and punishable by imprisonment. The clan spirit was all but broken. The Heritable Jurisdictions Act also came into play in 1746 and essentially removed any land authority that surviving clan chieftains had, with all ownership reverting to the Crown.

https://youtu.be/OvSh0qjKtkQ Song “The Ghosts of Culloden” by Isla Grant

Continued on Page 13 12 Clan Histories, Continued from Page 13

The New World The in the 18th and 19th Century seemed to be the final blow in the destruction of the Clan system. However, what became clear as the Highlanders were forced from their native land was that a system so rooted in the traditions of kinship and the family unit would never be wiped out so easily. If anything, the Highland Clearances brought a regeneration to the clan system. As the settlers spread throughout the ‘New World’, the clan became the cement that bonded them together. The formation of the Highland and Islands Immigration Society in 1846 helped open up areas in Australia and New Zealand. The great spread of ‘Jock Tampson’s Bairns’ had begun. The very forces which had threatened to destroy the clan system turned it into a worldwide phenomenon. The effects of emigration, whether it is from the Highland Clearances or more recent emigration trends, mean that Scottish influences can be found in far flung places, like Gaelic speakers in Canada and Highland Games in Kuala Lumpur. Despite the end of the traditional system, Scottish clan culture has found its way into countries and traditions the world over. Popular culture continues to make references to clans and clan culture today. Films such as Braveheart, Rob Roy and Outlaw King as well as television series such as Outlander portray Scotland’s clan culture to audiences around the world. For more information, visit the following website articles: https://www.scotland.org/features/scottish-clans https://www.scotclans.com/scottish-clans/the-clan-system/

13 Book Review

Charlie Brown and his friends head across the pond to Scotland where the gang plans to participate in an international music festival and Charlie Brown hopes to meet his pen- pal, Morag based on an unproduced, feature- length special, storyboarded by Charles M. Schulz!

Good Ol’ Charlie Brown has fallen in love with his pen-pal from Scotland! Now, full of unbridled enthusiasm and confidence, he’s convinced his friends Linus, Lucy, Schroeder, and his faithful dog, Snoopy, to accompany him on an international trip to meet her. Whether it’s golf, music, or the mystery of , everyone discovers something extraordinary about the legendary country…even Charlie Brown, who realizes he’s wishy-washy wherever he may be.

Discovered in the archives of the Schulz Studio, Scotland Bound, Charlie Brown is an original graphic novel adaptation of an Reading age 7 - 10 years unproduced, feature-length special, storyboarded by Charles M. Schulz and Bill Print length 112 pages Melendez; written by Jason Cooper and with Language English art by Robert Pope. Grade level 2 - 3

The story for Scotland Bound, Charlie Brown was inspired by an unproduced feature-length Peanuts animated special, Will Ye No Come Back Again, Charlie Currently available on Brown, based on a story by Charles M. Kindle or in paperback Schulz and storyboards by Bill Melendez. from Amazon The storyboards were discovered in the archives at Schulz Studio and adapted into Scotland Bound, Charlie Brown. Take a look at the storyboards that are included at the end of the book to see what started it all! 14 Scottish Gatherings Summer 2021

JUNE Cheyenne Celtic Music & Arts Festival When: June 12 - 13, 2021 Where: Cheyenne Lions Park, WY Website: https://www.facebook.com/CelticFestival/

Pikes Peak Celtic Festival When: June 18 - 20, 2021 Where: Western Museum of Mining & Industry, Colorado Springs, CO Website: pikespeakcelticfestival.com

Scotts Bluff Celtic Gathering When: June 26, 2021 Where: Five Rocks Ampitheater, Gering, NE Website: https://www.facebook.com/ScottsBluffCelticGathering/

SEPTEMBER Longs Peak Scottish-Irish Highland Festival When: September 10-12, 2021 Where: 433 S. St. Vrain Ave. PMB 1221 - Estes Park, CO 80517 Website: www.scotfest.com

Celtic Festival and Highland Games - Quad Cities When: September 25-26, 2021 Where: Centenniel Park - Davenport River Front, Davenport, IA Website: www.celtichighlandgames.org

Many events have been cancelled, but there are a few in and near Nebraska this summer. If you are interested, visit the website to ensure the festival is still a go. 15 Top 10 Facts About Gowff in Scotland Golf = Gentleman Only, Ladies Forbidden… NOT!

From The to the birthplace of golf, Scotland can claim some of the best courses, players and victories in golfing history. 1. THE BIRTHPLACE OF GOLF The first record of golf in Scotland dates back to the 15th century. In 1457, golf was banned by as it was seen as a distraction from military training. The ban was repealed in 1502 and King James IV made the first documented purchase of golf clubs in the same year. King James IV wasn't the only royal fond of a round of golf, whilst official records have the founding of the world's oldest existing golf course at Old Links in 1672, folk history says that Mary, Queen of Scots played there in 1567. 2. THE FINEST COURSES IN THE WORLD There are over 550 golf courses in Scotland today. Along a short stretch of coastline running from to Ayr there is an endless procession of fairways including some of the finest links courses in the world: , Royal Troon, Barassie, Old Prestwick, Bogside, and Western Gailes, and that's just Ayrshire! 3. PIONEER IN COURSE ARCHITECTURE One of the first great exponents of golf course design was Thomas Mitchell 'Old Tom' Morris, Sr. of St Andrew's (not to be confused with son and fellow golfer, Young Tom Morris). Whilst his career as a player was illustrious, to this day he holds the British Open records as oldest champion and greatest margin of victory, and equally well - remembered for his pioneering work in course architecture. Old Tom's work can be seen at Carnoustie, Nairn and Old in Scotland, as well as Lahinch, Co. Clare in Ireland and Royal County Down in Northern Ireland. 4. "THE FINEST PARCEL OF LAND" The PGA Centenary Course, created by Jack Nicklaus, is considered a modern classic. Set in the spectacular Perthshire countryside, Nicklaus described it as "The finest parcel of land in the world I have ever been given to work with".

Continued on Page 17 16 Scottish Gowff, Continued from Page 16

5. INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED 'HOME OF GOLF' If you ask any golfer to point you to the home of golf, all will point in one direction. Jack Nicklaus is quoted as saying "When the Open is in Scotland, there's really something special about it." 6. WORLD-CLASS PLAYERS Scotland has produced more than its fair share of world-class players: Paul Lawrie, , and not least Ayrshire-born Sam Torrance OBE. Having won 21 European Tour titles over three decades, Torrance went on to become one of Europe's most beloved Ryder Cup captains when he led the side to victory at . 7. THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL GOLF MATCH The founding of The Ryder Cup in 1927 stemmed from the first international golf match between Great Britain and the United States in 1921. The American PGA brought American golfers over to Britain as a team as no American had yet won The British Open. A warm-up tournament between Great Britain and the United States was arranged two weeks before the British Open at and held at Gleneagles. This tournament marked the beginning of what would become The Ryder Cup. 8. THE MOST SUCCESSFUL RYDER CUP PLAYER Scottish golfers have historically been well represented in The Ryder Cup. of featured in the first three Ryder Cups, captaining Great Britain to its first victory in 1929. Colin Montgomery is the most successful Scottish golfer in the tournament's history having never lost a singles match and amassed 23.5 points across eight Ryder Cups over the course of 36 matches.

Continued on Page 18 17 Scottish Gowff, Continued from Page 17

9. THE GREATEST COMEBACK IN GOLF HISTORY The 2012 Ryder Cup was one of the greatest comebacks in golfing history. Team Europe were trailing 10 points to six but on the final day took 8 of a possible 11 points to take the victory. Paul Lawrie from played a key role in the winning team in 2012, beating Brandt Snedeker on the Sunday to earn a valuable point for Team Europe. 10. HOSTS OF THE 2014 was only the second time that The Ryder Cup has been hosted in Scotland. The 40th Ryder Cup was played at the Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire having last visited Scotland in 1973, when it was played at Muirfield in East .

Go to these websites for more information on Scottish Gowff

https://www.athleticscholarships.net/history-of-golf.htm

https://www.britain-magazine.com/features/the-history-of-golf-in-scotland/

https://www.golf-holiday-scotland.com/history-of-golf-in-scotland.html

https://gingerbeergolftravel.com/insights-playing-scottish-links-golf-different-game/

18 Poetry Summer Sun Great is the sun, and wide he goes Through empty heaven with repose; Robert Louis And in the blue and glowing days More thick than rain he showers his rays. Though closer still the blinds we pull Stevenson To keep the shady parlor cool, Yet he will find a chink or two Bed in Summer To slip his golden fingers through. In winter I get up at night The dusty attic spider-clad And dress by yellow candle-light. He, through the keyhole, maketh glad; In summer quite the other way, And through the broken edge of tiles I have to go to bed by day. Into the laddered hay-loft smiles. I have to go to bed and see Meantime his golden face around The birds still hopping on the tree, He bares to all the garden ground, Or hear the grown-up people’s feet And sheds a warm and glittering look Still going past me in the street. Among the ivy’s inmost nook. And does it not seem hard to you, Above the hills, along the blue, When all the sky is clear and blue, Round the bright air with footing true, And I should like so much to play, To please the child, to paint the rose, To have to go to bed by day? The gardener of the World, he goes.

19 Recipe Corner

Eton Mess – a Scottish Fruit Dessert

A Scottish favorite in June when lush berries are available, this dish has been around since the 19th century and is traditionally served at Eton College's annual cricket game against Winchester College.

Ingredients 4 cups of hulled strawberries or other soft fruit 1 cup heavy cream 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar 2 Tbsp. granulated sugar 1 package meringue cookies, coarsely crumbled

Directions Place strawberries and granulated sugar in a large bowl. Cover and let stand at room temperature for 15-30 minutes. Coarsely crush berries with a potato masher, leaving them quite chunky. Whip cream and confectioners' sugar in large bowl until soft peaks form. Reserve a half cup of the berries. Fold berries and cookies into the cream until everything gently covered. Serve in a mound on plates or in dessert bowls. Top each with some of the reserved berries and garnish with mint.

Serving note: This is not a make-ahead dessert. It needs to be assembled right before serving, so the meringue remains crisp. A variety of berries can be used. In the picture, strawberries and cherries are used and the dish garnished with mint leaves. Serves 4-6

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