In my own clans, based on some readings of Irish farming history, a large percentage of a bloodline, both men and women of all ages, follow the sheep into the hills each Sea Season. Adolescents and initiands especially are encouraged to make the journey up to the shielings or booleys.
Overgrazed shielings can get eaten out and exhausted in just a few years. Others endure, perhaps even from the Godtime, and are holy places of Voriof, Heler, and Nevala. The sheep are naturally attracted to such spots (historically the sheep headed uphill intuitively in early spring, and found the booleys themselves) and don't have any concept of clan boundaries. You may well have flocks from different clans in adjacent pastures: in fact, for me its an important part of the equation.
Once lambing starts everyone is kept busy by day and night. When lambing is done there's time for teaching in preparation for initiation, and for the recently-initiated there's folk from other clans about, a relaxed, unwarlike atmosphere, and opportunities for romance and for tasting newly-gained sexual freedom. A lot of future husbands and wives meet up in the shielings
Eager young cottars ask young women from other clans (the 'shielas') to take long walks in the heather, 'looking for lost lambs', while suspicious elder kinsfolk check for a glisten in the eye or a tilt in the kilt.
And don't forget the heather ale!
Cheers
John
Powered by hypermail