Categories
Folklore Place names Rural Life

Lunar helping hand

The farm of Turniemoon was said to be the place where, every 28 days, the Calder witches met to turn the moon by hand, fearing that the switch to the Gregorian calendar in 1582 had confused the moon and that it might disappear from the night sky.

Image

The name of the farm, near West Calder, is actually derived from Torr na Moine, Gaelic for “hill of the peat bog”, but I always prefer folk etymologies!

Categories
Uncategorized

Teleporting to Torryburn and other feats

In 1720, the Baron of Calder’s son convinced everyone he’d been possessed, claiming he could pee ink, fly around the room, teleport to Torryburn, and could sleep through being horsewhipped (folk tested). 5 women rounded up- all got off with a mild rebuke.