The Burry Man
Encyclopedia
The Burryman or Burry Man is the central figure in an annual ceremony
or ritual, the Burryman's Parade, that takes place in South Queensferry
, (Gaelic
Cas Chaolais) near Edinburgh
, on the south bank of the Firth of Forth
in Scotland, on the second Friday of August. The custom is associated with, but separate from, the town's Ferry Fair. The meaning of this ceremony has long been forgotten, but it has been the cause of much speculation. It is sometimes said that the custom was first recorded in 1687 (when the right to hold the Ferry Fair was originally granted), but it is widely believed to be much older.
According to folklorist Christina Hole, writing in 1976, the day of the Burryman ceremony (the second Friday of August) is the day before the town's Ferry Fair. but the present Ferry Fair website suggests that it comes at the end of a week-long fair.
On the Friday morning, a local man is covered from head to ankles in burrs
(the sticky flowerheads or seedheads of two species of burdock
, Arctium lappa and A. minus) that grow locally. The stickiness of his burry covering means that he has to walk awkwardly, with legs apart and arms held out sideways but he is nevertheless paraded around a seven-mile route through South Queensferry for nine hours or more. He supports his aching arms on waist-high poles decorated with flowers. Two attendants (dressed in normal clothing) guide him through the town and help him through his ordeal. They visit the town's pubs
, some factories, and the provost's
house, at each of which the Burryman is given a drink of whisky
, but because of his sticky facial covering he can only drink through a straw. He is not allowed to speak. By the end of the day he is exhausted.
The residents believe he will bring good luck
to the town if they give him whisky and money, and that bad luck will result if the custom is discontinued.
Only men born in the village can take on the role of the Burryman. Although local residents must apply annually to the local council for the dubious honour, some have held the office for several years. Alan Reid was the Burryman for 25 years (until 1999); his successor, John Nichol, took over till 2011. Other past holders of the position have included James "Kitter" Magan, Mr. J. Hast, Sam Corson and Arne Fredricksen.
In 2005, the Burry Man inspired an amusing avantgarde 'folk song' by Daniel Patrick Quinn
and narrated by local man Duncan Grahl.
, which can be wrapped around his body on the morning of the ceremony. The process takes about half an hour. He dresses in several layers of clothing to protect himself from their hooks. A balaclava covers his head and face; it too is covered with burrs, leaving only small eye and mouth holes; a flower-covered bowler hat tops off the outfit.
He wears boots (his feet are the only parts of his body to remain uncovered by burrs) and has a broad, sash around his waist, currently made from a folded Royal Standard of Scotland
, displaying the top half of a red lion rampant
on a bright yellow background.. The choice of flag used in the outfit has varied, as a photograph from the 1970's shows the sash around the waist made from a folded Union Flag
.
- it can certainly ward off children, some of whom are terrified at the very sight of the Burryman, and avoid looking him in the eye.
It has been suggested that he carries on a tradition thousands of years old; that he is a symbol of rebirth, regeneration and fertility (similar to the Green Man
) that predates almost all contemporary religions; that he is a "scapegoat
" and may even originally have been a sacrificial victim
.
Similar ceremonies used to be held in other Scottish fishing communities, notably Buckie
on the Moray Firth
and Fraserburgh
, to 'raise the herring' when there had been a poor fishing season. Now, only the South Queensferry ceremony remains in Scotland, though there are possible parallels with the Whittlesea Straw Bear and the Castleton Garland King
(and perhaps even the Jack in the green
) in England, as well as other customs elsewhere in Europe.
Ceremony
A ceremony is an event of ritual significance, performed on a special occasion. The word may be of Etruscan origin.-Ceremonial occasions:A ceremony may mark a rite of passage in a human life, marking the significance of, for example:* birth...
or ritual, the Burryman's Parade, that takes place in South Queensferry
South Queensferry
South Queensferry , also called Queensferry, is a former Royal Burgh in West Lothian now part of the City of Edinburgh, Scotland. It is located some ten miles to the north west of the city centre, on the shore of the Firth of Forth between the Forth Bridge and the Forth Road Bridge, approximately 8...
, (Gaelic
Goidelic languages
The Goidelic languages or Gaelic languages are one of the two branches of the Insular Celtic languages, the other consisting of the Brythonic languages. Goidelic languages historically formed a dialect continuum stretching from the south of Ireland through the Isle of Man to the north of Scotland...
Cas Chaolais) near Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, on the south bank of the Firth of Forth
Firth of Forth
The Firth of Forth is the estuary or firth of Scotland's River Forth, where it flows into the North Sea, between Fife to the north, and West Lothian, the City of Edinburgh and East Lothian to the south...
in Scotland, on the second Friday of August. The custom is associated with, but separate from, the town's Ferry Fair. The meaning of this ceremony has long been forgotten, but it has been the cause of much speculation. It is sometimes said that the custom was first recorded in 1687 (when the right to hold the Ferry Fair was originally granted), but it is widely believed to be much older.
The ceremony
On the Friday morning, a local man is covered from head to ankles in burrs
Burr (fruit)
A bur is a seed or dry fruit in which the seeds bear hooks or teeth which attach themselves to fur or clothing of passing animals or people. The hooks or teeth can be irritants and very hard to get off of clothing, such as wool or cotton...
(the sticky flowerheads or seedheads of two species of burdock
Burdock
Burdock is any of a group of biennial thistles in the genus Arctium, family Asteraceae. Native to the Old World, several species have been widely introduced worldwide....
, Arctium lappa and A. minus) that grow locally. The stickiness of his burry covering means that he has to walk awkwardly, with legs apart and arms held out sideways but he is nevertheless paraded around a seven-mile route through South Queensferry for nine hours or more. He supports his aching arms on waist-high poles decorated with flowers. Two attendants (dressed in normal clothing) guide him through the town and help him through his ordeal. They visit the town's pubs
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
, some factories, and the provost's
Provost (civil)
A provost is the ceremonial head of many Scottish local authorities, and under the name prévôt was a governmental position of varying importance in Ancien Regime France.-History:...
house, at each of which the Burryman is given a drink of whisky
Whisky
Whisky or whiskey is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash. Different grains are used for different varieties, including barley, malted barley, rye, malted rye, wheat, and corn...
, but because of his sticky facial covering he can only drink through a straw. He is not allowed to speak. By the end of the day he is exhausted.
The residents believe he will bring good luck
Luck
Luck or fortuity is good fortune which occurs beyond one's control, without regard to one's will, intention, or desired result. There are at least two senses people usually mean when they use the term, the prescriptive sense and the descriptive sense...
to the town if they give him whisky and money, and that bad luck will result if the custom is discontinued.
Only men born in the village can take on the role of the Burryman. Although local residents must apply annually to the local council for the dubious honour, some have held the office for several years. Alan Reid was the Burryman for 25 years (until 1999); his successor, John Nichol, took over till 2011. Other past holders of the position have included James "Kitter" Magan, Mr. J. Hast, Sam Corson and Arne Fredricksen.
In 2005, the Burry Man inspired an amusing avantgarde 'folk song' by Daniel Patrick Quinn
Daniel Patrick Quinn
Daniel Patrick Quinn is best known as a British musician, composer, producer and performer. Founder of the experimental Edinburgh-based record label Suilven Recordings which released his own works and that of postminimalist ambient American composers DAC Crowell and Kurt Doles, with whom he also...
and narrated by local man Duncan Grahl.
Details of the costume
The Burryman is meant to collect his covering of burrs for himself, as well as any ferns and flowers used to decorate his costume and the two flower-covered staves (poles) that he rests his hands on. John Nichol admits to recruiting his family to help gather the large number of burrs: approximately 11,000 are needed. They are then meshed together into about 25 flat panels (A3 in size), like natural VelcroVelcro
Velcro is the brand name of the first commercially marketed fabric hook-and-loop fastener, invented in 1948 by the Swiss electrical engineer George de Mestral...
, which can be wrapped around his body on the morning of the ceremony. The process takes about half an hour. He dresses in several layers of clothing to protect himself from their hooks. A balaclava covers his head and face; it too is covered with burrs, leaving only small eye and mouth holes; a flower-covered bowler hat tops off the outfit.
He wears boots (his feet are the only parts of his body to remain uncovered by burrs) and has a broad, sash around his waist, currently made from a folded Royal Standard of Scotland
Royal Standard of Scotland
The Royal Standard of Scotland, , also known as the Banner of the King of Scots, or more commonly the Lion Rampant of Scotland, is the Scottish Royal Banner of Arms...
, displaying the top half of a red lion rampant
Lion (heraldry)
The lion is a common charge in heraldry. It traditionally symbolises bravery, valour, strength, and royalty, since traditionally, it is regarded as the king of beasts.-Attitudes:...
on a bright yellow background.. The choice of flag used in the outfit has varied, as a photograph from the 1970's shows the sash around the waist made from a folded Union Flag
Union Flag
The Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the flag of the United Kingdom. It retains an official or semi-official status in some Commonwealth Realms; for example, it is known as the Royal Union Flag in Canada. It is also used as an official flag in some of the smaller British overseas...
.
Suggested origins
There are many theories about the origin of the custom, what the ceremony means, and why it continues. One idea is that the parade was intended to ward off evil spiritsApotropaic magic
Apotropaic magic is a type of magic intended to "turn away" harm or evil influences."Apotropaic" observances may also be practiced out of vague superstition or out of tradition, as in good luck charm , or gestures like fingers crossed or knocking on wood.Apotropaic is an adjective that means...
- it can certainly ward off children, some of whom are terrified at the very sight of the Burryman, and avoid looking him in the eye.
It has been suggested that he carries on a tradition thousands of years old; that he is a symbol of rebirth, regeneration and fertility (similar to the Green Man
Green Man
A Green Man is a sculpture, drawing, or other representation of a face surrounded by or made from leaves. Branches or vines may sprout from the nose, mouth, nostrils or other parts of the face and these shoots may bear flowers or fruit...
) that predates almost all contemporary religions; that he is a "scapegoat
Scapegoat
Scapegoating is the practice of singling out any party for unmerited negative treatment or blame. Scapegoating may be conducted by individuals against individuals , individuals against groups , groups against individuals , and groups against groups Scapegoating is the practice of singling out any...
" and may even originally have been a sacrificial victim
Human sacrifice
Human sacrifice is the act of killing one or more human beings as part of a religious ritual . Its typology closely parallels the various practices of ritual slaughter of animals and of religious sacrifice in general. Human sacrifice has been practised in various cultures throughout history...
.
Similar ceremonies used to be held in other Scottish fishing communities, notably Buckie
Buckie
Buckie is a burgh town on the Moray Firth coast of Scotland in Moray. Buckie was the largest town in Banffshire by some thousands of inhabitants before regionalisation in 1975 removed that political division from the map of Scotland...
on the Moray Firth
Moray Firth
The Moray Firth is a roughly triangular inlet of the North Sea, north and east of Inverness, which is in the Highland council area of north of Scotland...
and Fraserburgh
Fraserburgh
Fraserburgh is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland with a population recorded in the 2001 Census at 12,454 and estimated at 12,630 in 2006. It lies at the extreme northeast corner of Aberdeenshire, around north of Aberdeen, and north of Peterhead...
, to 'raise the herring' when there had been a poor fishing season. Now, only the South Queensferry ceremony remains in Scotland, though there are possible parallels with the Whittlesea Straw Bear and the Castleton Garland King
Castleton Garland Day
Castleton Garland Day or Garland King Day is held on 29 May in the town of Castleton in the Derbyshire Peak District...
(and perhaps even the Jack in the green
Jack in the green
A Jack in the Green is a participant in traditional English May Day parades and other May celebrations, who wears a large, foliage-covered, garland-like framework, usually pyramidal or conical in shape, which covers his body from head to foot...
) in England, as well as other customs elsewhere in Europe.
External links
- John Nicol on being the Burry Man