WELCOME TO AN ENTERTAINMENT SITE FOR SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCERS!
Enjoy this curated selection of theme-related dances for celebrations and holidays, or find a dance associated with a special calendar day, or EVEN your own birthday!
Grumpy Cat
Oct 15
Grouch Day
Crabbit Shona
Other Scottish Country Dances for this Day
Today's Musings, History & Folklore
"The beginner's unsure, yet eager to grow,
The more practiced move boldly, with much left to know.
The expert is wise, with a kind, open hand,
Welcoming all to the joy of the dance of the land
With patience we step, some falter, some glide,
But mistakes are just moments where lessons abide.
So don't fear a stumble, or stepping too wrong,
For the dance lifts us up, where all feet belong!
~ The Three Stages of Dancing
Give Miss Moneypenny her due with this busy 32-bar jig devised by Alasdair Brown, including set and rotate and tandem reels—figures nicely suited to illustrating the humorous give-and-take, comings and goings, and shifting personnel of MI6’s office.
Crabbit Shona
The word "grouch" traces its origins to the late 19th century in the United States, with its roots possibly in the Old French word "groucier," meaning "to grumble or complain." Some linguists believe it may be related to the Middle English "grucchen," which had a similar meaning. Over time, "grouch" evolved into the familiar term for a person who is habitually irritable or complains frequently.
In Scotland, there are some colorful and distinctive synonyms for a grouch:
"Crabbit": A Scots term meaning bad-tempered or grumpy. It’s often used in a lighthearted or affectionate way, as in “Aye, he’s a bit crabbit the morn.”
"Grumphie": Though more commonly used to refer to a pig, in some Scottish dialects, it’s playfully used for a person who’s particularly sulky or cantankerous, much like a grouch.
"Dour": While "dour" can refer to someone who is stern or unyielding, in Scotland, it’s often used to describe a person who is sour, sullen, or joyless.
For more etymological theories about the word "grouch", click the most famous Grouch after Groucho Marx!
Click the dance cribs or description below to link to a printable version of the dance!
