Whit’s on this Christmas?
Christmas time is almost here — a holiday that’s full of cheer!
Presents, the ba’ and gigs galore; festive fun is to the fore
Whether it’s Friday madness or just holiday capers,
Here’s the top list from your local paper…
Gigs Galore — Brought to you by Orkney Live Wire
It’s that time of year again! Orkney’s homegrown bands are out in full force over the festive period. In pubs, clubs, and community halls across the county, there’s plenty for everyone to enjoy.
To find out who’s playing when and where, check out the ultimate festive gig list, courtesy of Orkney Live Wire.
The Ba’, Kirkwall
It is almost that time of year again and, as Ba’ season approaches once more, respect, safety and good conduct are the key messages from the Ba’ Committee, aimed at both players and spectators alike, who are passionate about our traditional and unique
game.
As tradition dictates, Uppies v Doonies will face each other once more on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, and once again players and spectators together are urged to respect the history of the game to ensure that it continues in good health, long into the future.
Last year saw the Christmas boys’ game reach the Uppie goal in three hours, with the men’s hitting the Doonie goal at the harbour in a lighting-quick 14 minutes, leaving Uppies shell-shocked and Doonies celebrating.
New Year’s Day quickly came, and the Uppies took the boys’ ba’ back to the wall in under an hour, doing the festive double for the young players.
After what happened in the Christmas men’s game, who knew what the outcome would be at New Year?
A great contest saw the ba’ forced into Doonie territory in Albert Street, before an Uppie smuggle from the lane alongside Boots took the ba’ to the wall for an Uppie win, and the bragging rights were shared in the men’s contests.
Who will be the victors this season…. time will tell!
Yule Log Pull, Stromness
The Per Mare Yule Log event will see a tug of war test of strength between the people living in the north end of the town, and those living in the south, and is just one of a series of events which will take place across the country to bring in the New Year the Scottish way, as part of Scotland’s Winter Festivals.
The event will close a year of celebrations for the historic town, which has been marking 200 years since the town became a Burgh of Barony in 1817, when it formed a town council to take control of its own affairs and took as its motto, Per Mare, meaning “by the sea.”
The Yule Log, or Yule Tree, was a festive street game, unique to Stromness, which saw a gang of local youths cut down a tree from a town garden, attach ropes and chains to either end and split into two teams — the “Northenders” and the “Soothenders.” Each team would then attempt to drag the tree to opposing goals on either side of the town.
The last known game was played in 1937, around which time the town council had outlawed the cutting down of trees for the game.
he event will start from the town’s Pierhead area at 2pm on Hogmanay, with participants attempting to drag the 400kg log using 40 metres of rope on either side, to goals at opposite ends of the town.