In 1840s Fife, a deserted spouse could have their marriage annulled if they set a place at the dinner table and shouted out the door for the absent spouse to come eat. After a year plus one day, they were free to marry again.
Every evening a fresh table setting had to be put out when the jilted spouse was ready to eat, and every time they’d have to call out that dinner was ready. Think it was to demonstrate good faith that you *wanted* your spouse to come home.
16th March 1559. Bessie Smith complains to St Andrews Kirk session that her husband, Andrew Lumsden, has “nocht adhered to hir in bed for twelf years”. Church decrees that he must “adhere to her” within 48 hours. Her neighbours to report back and confirm.
Hay Fleming, D. (ed) (1889) Register of the minister, elders, and deacons of the Christian congregation of St. Andrews : comprising the proceedings of the Kirk session and of the Court of the Superintendent of Fife, Fothrik, and Strathearn. 1559-1600. Vol. 1., Edinburgh University Press. 486pp.
At the weddings of Avoch fisherfolk, the best man would untie the groom’s left shoe before the ceremony to defend against meddling by witches. The shoe needed to be worn untied for the rest of the day, night, and following morning.
