The SAMS Lyceum of Martial and Societal Antediluvian Chronicles An addendum to The SAMS Sporran November 2020 Veteran’s Day ​ You might ask: Why is an American Holiday found in a Scottish newsletter? That’s a good question and here is the answer. Well, it was proposed by a Scot, President Woody Wilson and that should be a reasonable excuse. The Veteran’s Day commemoration was an outcome of World War One. The fighting ceased with an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany on the Eleventh hour of the Eleventh day of the Eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.” In 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as Armistice Day the first commemorating the sacrifices made by the men and women in uniform of with the following words: "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the ​ heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…" World War I officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles. Much like the Congress of today The United States Congress didn’t get around to officially recognizing the end of World War I until June 4, 1926. Even then they didn’t approve it until May 13, 1938. Thus the 11th of November in each year is a legal holiday—a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as "Armistice Day." In 1954 the name was changed to Veteran’s Day to include those who served during World War II and in Korea. On June 28, 1968, the date was changed to the nearest Monday to ensure three day weekends for Federal employees by celebrating four national holidays: Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day on Mondays. Due to the massive and unnecessary confusion this caused, the annual observance of Veterans Day was returned to its original date of November 11, beginning in 1978. November in Scotland: ​ When one mentions the words November and Scotland several events spring immediately​ to mind; The Celtic Football Club's founding in 1817 or the Stone of Destiny being returned to Edinburgh Castle in 1997. Okay, just kidding. But, those events really did happen. th Most of us are probably unaware of Guy Fawkes Day, November 5 .​ It was Guy, who ​ with others, planned to assassinate Scottish born King James I and restore a Catholic monarch to the throne. They were going to blow up Parliament and the king with it. The plotters secured the lease to an undercroft (basement) beneath the House of Lords, and Fawkes was placed in charge of the gunpowder they stockpiled there. The plot failed partly because the plotters “passed the bottle” to fill time, they imbibed a wee bit too much and fell asleep and were subsequently caught. There was also a letter spilling the beans, as it were. Following his arrest when asked by one of the lords what he was doing in possession of so much gunpowder, Fawkes answered that his intention was "to blow you Scotch beggars back to your native mountains." ​ ​ Guy Fawkes is sometimes toasted as "The last man to enter Parliament with honest intentions". Fawkes became synonymous with the Gunpowder Plot, the failure of which has been commemorated in The UK since 5 November 1605. His effigy is traditionally burned on a bonfire, accompanied by a fireworks display. During the day children would go door to door asking for “A penny for the Guy” In addition to The Guy, it became the custom to burn an effigy of anyone who raised the ire of the public. After 1673, it was the pope, when the heir presumptive to the throne, James, Duke of York, made his conversion to Catholicism public. Effigies of other notable figures who have become targets for the public's ire, such as Paul Kruger and Margaret Thatcher, have also found their way onto the bonfires, although most modern effigies are of Fawkes. It is after all Guy Fawkes Day. “The Guy" is normally created by children, from old clothes, newspapers, and a mask. The bon fires, now used for The Guy, were originally part of the festival of Samhain ​ which we know today as Halloween. On the night of Samhain, people would light fires to protect ​ ​ themselves from the evil spirits and guide the good spirits on their way. The fires were then extinguished at bedtime to make the home and hearth, not to mention their bodies, cold and less inviting to the predatory and wandering evil spirits. It was originally referred to as the Festival of th ​ Fire. Over time the festival migrated to November the 5 ​ and became part of the Guy Fawkes ​ ​ festivities. Sadie Hawkins Day* in Scotland There is a tradition in Scotland that allows the lassies to “turn the tables on the laddies” and propose marriage and it wasn’t started in Gretna Green (The marriage capital of Scotland.) The origin of the tradition is said to stem from ancient Celtic history, beginning in the fifth century, in Ireland, and later became popular in Scotland. Since christianity replaced the traditional Celtic religion the position of women in Celtic society diminished. It is believed that a nun named Saint Brigdt complained to Saint Patrick that women had to wait too long for their suitors to propose. Legend has it that Saint Patrick then decreed that women could have the opportunity to pop the question - but only on one particular day in February, and only every four years. It is believed that this Irish tradition permitting women to propose on one day every four years was then taken to Scotland by Irish monks. It was unofficially named Proposal Day. ​ As any man already knows that the failure to honor a woman’s wishes always comes with a penalty, In Scotland, an unmarried Queen Margaret allegedly enacted a law in A.D.1288 allowing women to propose on leap-year day. But there was a catch: For modesty’s sake it is also said that the proposer was expected to wear either breeches or a scarlet petticoat while they were down on one knee. The law also stated that any man who declined the proposal on this day would have to pay a fine. This has also become commonplace in many European countries, with tradition stating men who turn down a woman’s proposal on a leap day should pay a penalty. The fine could consist of a new gown, money, or more unusually, 12 pairs of gloves for the lady. Theories have also suggested that the tradition originates from the time when leap days were not recognised by English law. As such, it was permissible for women to break the convection of a man proposing, and the day technically had no legal status. As we know, Leap Years occur once every four years. It is because the length of a solar year is 365 and ¼ days. Hence the extra day at the end of the year. This was a major improvement over the Roman calendar which had 5 extra days at the end of the year. In Roman times February was the last month of the year, so it was logical to add the extra day onto the end of this month. It was Julias Caesar, who in 45 BC introduced the leap day to the Julian calendar, However, there are exceptions to when leap years occur - the year has to be exactly divisible by four, except for years that are exactly divisible by 400. In these so-called ‘centurial’ years, it is only a leap year if they are exactly divisible by 400. So while the Romans could conquer the world and build magnificent roads they had a hard time counting days. Maybe that’s because there was no ‘zero’ in Roman numerals. *In the popular classic comic strip “Lil Abner” the womenfolk of Dogpatch On Sadie Hawkins Day were allowed to chase any unmarried man and if she caught him he had to marry her. Sadie ​ Hawkins Day races and events grew in popularity during the course of All Capp's long running cartoon. This cartoon made holiday largely died out after 40 years when the cartoon was discontinued. It can occasionally be seen celebrated on college campuses. For you bachelor folk, this year, Sadie Hawkins Day falls on Friday November 13th. So Laddies get out them runnin’ boots. The Truth About The First Thanksgiving The penultimate celebration of Fall has always been Thanksgiving. Tradition has a place of honor on that day. Thanksgiving has tradition out the wazoo. Family members gather from far and near to celebrate the close of the harvest season. Tables are set with a centerpiece of a tissue paper fold out turkey and little ceramic figurines of Pilgrim men and women and if you are really into tradition and Indian figurine or two. The best china and flatware are set and don’t forget the cloth napkins. An extra TV might be set up in another room, of course, for those family members who support That Other Team. Then there is the traditional turkey dinner with green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and those homemade (out of a can) biscuits and of course, the stuffing ( my favorite - oyster dressing).